The International Data Corporation (or IDC for short) apparently is able to gaze into the future and declare the dominant mobile OS in 2015.
While IDC isn’t doubting that Android will dominate the globe for the foreseeable future, their predictions regarding iOS are a bit puzzling.
“Up until the launch of Windows Phone 7 last year, Microsoft has steadily lost market share while other operating systems have brought forth new and appealing experiences,” added Llamas. “The new alliance brings together Nokia’s hardware capabilities and Windows Phone’s differentiated platform. We expect the first devices to launch in 2012. By 2015, IDC expects Windows Phone to be number 2 operating system worldwide behind Android.” (IDC)
Anyone who has ever held a Windows Phone 7 device (and played with it longer than 5 minutes) will admit to you that the OS is innovative, sleek and powerful (at least upon the Samsung and HTC devices that I’ve tried).
However to claim that Windows Phone 7 will surpass iOS based upon the Nokia-Microsoft alliance is silly, considering that Nokia has yet to release a killer smartphone to the masses.
The IDC also doesn’t factor that Apple is poised to enter the pre-paid market, allowing for millions of individuals to purchase an iPhone that previously was out of reach.
Although Windows Phone 7’s app store is witnessing incredible growth, sales of the various devices have yet to match either Android or iOS, despite heavy promotion from Microsoft on TV as well as online.
While it would not be surprising to see Windows Phone 7 spring ahead of Symbian (thanks to Nokia) or even Blackberry, until Microsoft reports blockbuster sales, I’m skeptical about it displacing iOS in the not so distant future.
Note: IDC’s chart from ZDnet
Originally posted on March 29, 2011 @ 1:26 pm