Microsoft: Windows Phone isn't our focus this year!

[Rahul Guliyani 92]

On a brighter note and a change from all the negative about Windows Mobile 10 I just watched the movie Batman vs. Superman did anyone catch the Lumia 950 being used in the movie? I thought it was cool and seemed good NOT to see an Apple all over the place. Snyder DC or someone associated with these movies must like Windows phone they were featured in 1st and 2nd Man of Steel movies and now Batman vs Superman. I have the 950 and its a GREAT phone.

I noticed that too and my girlfriend couldn't understand why i was excited to see just a windows phone being used in a movie (She's a Samsung fan)
I also saw Henry Cavill's instagram photo a few months back in which he shows off lumia 950

 

[dalydose]

Well, they are putting their focus on things that are "everywhere", while the phone is getting no specific attention. I can imagine all of the things you listed being on iOS and Android BEFORE Windows Mobile. Windows 10 on PC's is not the same as Windows 10 on mobile. Marketing speak aside, they are still two different animals.

 

[broar94]

http://forums.windowscentral.com/general-windows-phone-discussion-lounge/208468-76.htm --

all the recent posts indicate that more people are leaving WP after release of WP10 . Sad..

 

[luxnws]

http://forums.windowscentral.com/general-windows-phone-discussion-lounge/208468-76.htm --

all the recent posts indicate that more people are leaving WP after release of WP10 . Sad..

More accurately, the platform is leaving the people. Remember, less than half of all Windows Phones currently in circulation can be upgraded to W10M based on the AdDuplex survey of Windows Phones.

Of the number that can be upgraded but still running WP8.1, how many will bother to upgrade to W10M? It won't be 100%. Even 50% seems high.

Finally remember that fewer Windows Phones have been sold each of the past three years.

The numbers are probably why Microsoft isn't prioritizing development for Windows Phones at Build. It doesn't make sense for such a tiny audience. Even the Skype bot preview wasn't released on Windows Phone.

Skype Bots preview comes to consumers and developers ? - Skype Blogs

 

[Kram Sacul]

Microsoft has the most pro-individual approach to mobile and they get nothing but crap for it. Every core service that is offered is offered any platform of your choice. You can be a windows mobile phone user today and switch to android tomorrow and have no need to switch ecosystems.

I love the choice MS is giving us. If the services are good, the people will come.

Just not to Windows Phone/W10Whatever.

 

[DavidinCT]

I think some of you are clinging to false hope. I didn't want to believe WM10 was dead but all one needs to do is open their eyes and follow the money (like everything else in life).

It's done. Over. Kaput.

It's hard to say that 100%. On one site they say "Windows Phone isn't our focus this year!" makes everything seem kind of dim. Then we have HP coming out with a X3 phone, not just a phone, a complete line up of gear. I am sure Microsoft invested a lot to help HP build and create this device to be the ultimate flagship of it's time.

If we were still on 8.1, and they never created 10 for phones, I would give it a done stamp but, they want this flow between all devices so as 10 is pretty much dead this year, there is a high chance that they might put more into it later this year.

This alone makes me feel like it's over but, it's not the Microsoft way on how they do things. When it's over, you will know.

As for me, the W10m upgrade for the ICON has me PISSED off at Windows Phone completely (930 gets it but, the 929 does not ?). I am on my LG G3 and just watching all this.

I love Windows Phone but, seeing this, shows me we are NOT getting "Tap to Pay" this year....AGAIN... SO I am on my LG using Tap to Pay to get my coffee every morning. I can work around it for now and swap back to my ICON time to time.

I have almost given up....not fully but, almost but, fed up with waiting for crap

 

[Krystianpants]

My prediction? This week we may get a redstone build they had running during build. Which may include the xbox controller support.

I also predict the spring 2017 lineup of hardware they plan to release may include:

-a new xbox
-a new dock for existing/new continuum phones to extend power for gaming (Based on their multi gpu advancements in directX12), Lumia 950/xl may finally get support for dx12 and obviously redstone is going 64-bit.
- new hybrid laptop
- some type of interface for connecting devices and using their power possibly?
-accessories like e-ink flip cover.

 

[Paolo Ferrazza]

Anyway when talking about what is dead and what is not I'd put numbers in the discussion:

Month Android iOS Windows Phone Java ME Symbian Other

May, 2015 51.59% 38.98% 2.45% 3.84% 1.93% 1.21%
June, 2015 51.04% 40.83% 2.29% 3.20% 1.42% 1.22%
July, 2015 51.12% 41.55% 2.51% 2.09% 1.46% 1.27%
August, 2015 52.14% 40.82% 2.60% 1.72% 1.38% 1.33%
September, 2015 53.54% 38.58% 2.48% 1.73% 2.44% 1.22%
October, 2015 52.61% 40.28% 2.90% 1.73% 1.32% 1.15%
November, 2015 57.10% 34.88% 3.14% 1.76% 1.89% 1.23%
December, 2015 57.29% 35.43% 2.58% 1.85% 1.70% 1.14%
January, 2016 58.75% 32.93% 2.86% 2.14% 1.73% 1.60%
February, 2016 59.65% 32.28% 2.57% 2.40% 1.57% 1.53%
March, 2016 60.99% 31.76% 2.54% 2.07% 1.40% 1.24%

This is the usage-share of the various OS, as you can see windows phone is as dead as one year ago, even if it drops to 2.0% by the end of the year and then Microsoft starts marketing the new W10M experience there is nothing lost. Actually there is a lot to gain in this "retrenching" strategy if they can deliver a great mobile experience in these months of development and then show the world what they have done in this year of refinement!

https://netmarketshare.com/

 

[anon(6078578)]

Anyway when talking about what is dead and what is not I'd put numbers in the discussion:

Month Android iOS Windows Phone Java ME Symbian Other

May, 2015 51.59% 38.98% 2.45% 3.84% 1.93% 1.21%
June, 2015 51.04% 40.83% 2.29% 3.20% 1.42% 1.22%
July, 2015 51.12% 41.55% 2.51% 2.09% 1.46% 1.27%
August, 2015 52.14% 40.82% 2.60% 1.72% 1.38% 1.33%
September, 2015 53.54% 38.58% 2.48% 1.73% 2.44% 1.22%
October, 2015 52.61% 40.28% 2.90% 1.73% 1.32% 1.15%
November, 2015 57.10% 34.88% 3.14% 1.76% 1.89% 1.23%
December, 2015 57.29% 35.43% 2.58% 1.85% 1.70% 1.14%
January, 2016 58.75% 32.93% 2.86% 2.14% 1.73% 1.60%
February, 2016 59.65% 32.28% 2.57% 2.40% 1.57% 1.53%
March, 2016 60.99% 31.76% 2.54% 2.07% 1.40% 1.24%

This is the usage-share of the various OS, as you can see windows phone is as dead as one year ago, even if it drops to 2.0% by the end of the year and then Microsoft starts marketing the new W10M experience there is nothing lost. Actually there is a lot to gain in this "retrenching" strategy if they can deliver a great mobile experience in these months of development and then show the world what they have done in this year of refinement!

https://netmarketshare.com/

I'm not entirely sure those numbers really mean much as Symbian still has 1.4% and that is long dead. There is probably going to always be a tiny percentage that hangs on for a long time regardless of how 'dead' a platform may be. What will be more telling is how quickly those numbers trend back up depending on how successful Microsoft's strategy is.

 

[Paolo Ferrazza]

I'm not entirely sure those numbers really mean much as Symbian still has 1.4% and that is long dead. There is probably going to always be a tiny percentage that hangs on for a long time regardless of how 'dead' a platform may be. What will be more telling is how quickly those numbers trend back up depending on how successful Microsoft's strategy is.

I think they are very interesting when saying that it is "dead", if it is dead now it has always been dead since we've been fluctuating around 2.5% for years, that's what I mean. It's not dead, it's just in a decreasing slope of a curve that had up and downs for years. At least this time there is a real project, so when we touch let's say 2% by the end of the year there could be a real bounce. I'm all for going down to 2% if that means reaching 5% in 2017-2018 (just for example sake).

iphone numbers on the other hand should worry apple fans a bit, and if you read around the net the outlook is not very good for either apple that is loosing to android, and for android OEMs that can't get any revenue from the crazy android handsets market. Interesting times indeed.

 

[Spectrum90]

I think they are very interesting when saying that it is "dead", if it is dead now it has always been dead since we've been fluctuating around 2.5% for years...

Don't try to extract many conclusion of web traffic data. People use apps on their phones, not the web.
Sales stats are a better indicator of the health of the platform and as you probably know WP sales are rapidly approaching to zero.

 

[Paolo Ferrazza]

Don't try to extract many conclusion of web traffic data. People use apps on their phones, not the web.
Sales stats are a better indicator of the health of the platform and as you probably know WP sales are rapidly approaching to zero.

What's important is usage, as you may see the trend is lowering following the low sales so the two are related obviously but they are not the same. And web usage is the best indicator of how many active users are out there, and that's what matters for the matter at hand. From ecosystem point of view we don't care about the fact that iphone users upgrade far more often then other users that's why sales does not represent active users at all. If you have another good indicator of OS usage please share it. And "people use data on they phones" is obvious, the point is they use the browser too on all systems, I go out for lunch with a lot of people with android and iphones and all of them during lunch opens the browser at least once, as an example.

 

[Dragunov2]

Well, if we can install IOS apps on our Windows Phone, then everything is solved, at least for me!

No need to go to another platform, cause then I have everything I want!

 

[cjslman]

I don't think that MS is abandoning W10M. I think that MS' idea is to focus development on other platforms (xbox, etc) which are the ones that are bringing in the green ones. W10M and related HW will probably be in some sort of maintenance/minimal development mode. I will admit that I'm not sure if that is the correct strategy to follow. Now, IMHO, I don't think MS is interested in going after Android/iPhone market share (and probably shouldn't). What it should be trying to be doing is create an essential accessory/companion for the millions of Windows 10 users. Unfortunately, it's first attempt at this was a very expensive and buggy proposition.

 

[WillysJeepMan]

You know, I just don't get it either. Everything that was announced at //build/ is a plus plus and super plus for widows 10 mobile. The pessimism at windows central is epic, almost like a curse.

That's because you are believing what you see and hear from BUILD rather than looking at Microsoft's track record over the years. Cue "but this time it will be different". :excited: Just like WP 7 was going to be different. With WP 8 it was REALLY going to be different. Wait, WP 10 is the version that will REALLY TRULY be different because this time Microsoft REALLY, REALLY means it! LOL

Yo Panay, I'm still waiting for those custom blades for the Surface you said (3 years ago) were coming. :winktongue:

So to say that the pessimism is epic implies that there is no rational basis for that response.

The Verge is like an Apple promotion site these days, they'll spin whatever news they get to make MS look bad. Have you heard the interview? This year isn't about mobile, its about Windows, all of it, mobile inclusive. However, me, I'm not a developer, but I'm super excited for UWP, for Cortana and Skype, for Ink, Hello and the possibilities of those APIs in the hands of developers. Indeed the future is her and its clearly with Windows 10.

You are welcome to fantasize about how terrific Windows 10 is going to be. I won't try to convince you to think differently. For those of us who have long histories with Microsoft in the mobile space, we've seen enough to know how this ends... because there is nothing fundamentally different this time that will cause the outcome to be different.

 

[anon(5335899)]

Maybe I missed something, but Windows Phone is EOL and is no longer updated or developed for by Microsoft.. The last version was 8.1 and that is where it ends. New devices in all form factors will run and take advantage of the options provided through Windows 10 and that includes device with screen sizes 4-7 inch.

Microsoft is currently focusing and asking the developers to focus on the WIN10 UWP platform which , by doing so, opens up _any_ of the currently 275Million+ devices running Windows 10. No-one _ever_ said 'Windows Phone isn't our focus" if only because Windows Phone is dead, gone, EOL and no longer being developed. What was said is ""We're fully committed to that 4-inch screen, there will be a time for it to be our focus, but right now it's part of the family, but it's not the core of where I hope to generate developer interest over the next year,""

 

[Kar98]

http://forums.windowscentral.com/general-windows-phone-discussion-lounge/208468-76.htm --

all the recent posts indicate that more people are leaving WP after release of WP10 . Sad..

"Release" of WP10, you mean? Because haven't seen an official release for my phone yet.

 

[luxnws]

Anyway when talking about what is dead and what is not I'd put numbers in the discussion:

Month Android iOS Windows Phone Java ME Symbian Other

May, 2015 51.59% 38.98% 2.45% 3.84% 1.93% 1.21%
June, 2015 51.04% 40.83% 2.29% 3.20% 1.42% 1.22%
July, 2015 51.12% 41.55% 2.51% 2.09% 1.46% 1.27%
August, 2015 52.14% 40.82% 2.60% 1.72% 1.38% 1.33%
September, 2015 53.54% 38.58% 2.48% 1.73% 2.44% 1.22%
October, 2015 52.61% 40.28% 2.90% 1.73% 1.32% 1.15%
November, 2015 57.10% 34.88% 3.14% 1.76% 1.89% 1.23%
December, 2015 57.29% 35.43% 2.58% 1.85% 1.70% 1.14%
January, 2016 58.75% 32.93% 2.86% 2.14% 1.73% 1.60%
February, 2016 59.65% 32.28% 2.57% 2.40% 1.57% 1.53%
March, 2016 60.99% 31.76% 2.54% 2.07% 1.40% 1.24%

This is the usage-share of the various OS, as you can see windows phone is as dead as one year ago, even if it drops to 2.0% by the end of the year and then Microsoft starts marketing the new W10M experience there is nothing lost. Actually there is a lot to gain in this "retrenching" strategy if they can deliver a great mobile experience in these months of development and then show the world what they have done in this year of refinement!

https://netmarketshare.com/

Question: if you're using netmarketshare data, of that 2.xx% of Windows Phone usage, how many were running on W10M?

Answer: less than 10% of that 2.xx% Windows Phone market share. So 0.2x% of all mobile phone usage were on W10M during those time frames.

0.2x% market share has to be a concern if you are developing apps specifically for Windows Phone running on W10M for the general marketplace.

 

[Paolo Ferrazza]

Question: if you're using netmarketshare data, of that 2.xx% of Windows Phone usage, how many were running on W10M?

Answer: less than 10% of that 2.xx% Windows Phone market share. So 0.2x% of all mobile phone usage were on W10M during those time frames.

0.2x% market share has to be a concern if you are developing apps specifically for Windows Phone running on W10M for the general marketplace.

Nope don't give random numbers, on that very site there are the percentages for each mobile OS by version too, at least take the time to read them if you want to argue

 

[se312]

Well, ?t's Not Looking Good

Last year, when MLB TV announced that they would be dropping their Windows Phone app, it was all over the internet. This year, there is no Windows 10 app at all for MLB TV, at least at the time of this writing. And no one is batting an eye over it. You would thing, with the advent of Windows 10 universal apps, MLB would be all over it. But, nothing so far and no one is reporting on it either. I have two Nokia 1520's, they are working beautifully with Windows 10. I'll keep running with them until they die, it's a great phone. But when it's time for a new device, I'll be an unwilling defector