Shifting Share and Tough Transitions ...
Syl,
<< Nokia will lose even more market share in the 3rd Q while Samsung will gain market share. >>
There is no question about that, and Nokia's share loss will continue through Q3, Q4, and well into 2012, even with new Symbian Anna and Belle models filling in for Nokia'a initial ramp of WinPhone 7.5.
What we are likely to see is a rebuilding of Nokia share starting in Q4 2012 (realistically not much before) when a full product range of Nokia WinPhones is on shelves. That broad range will include the next full WinPhone release (Apollo) and that release (unlike Mango and Tango) will likely reflect a significant Nokia imprint. By that time the 3rd major ecosystem should be rapidly gaining share and entering 2014 the smartphone share makeup will look quite different from today. Look for Samsung, HTC, LG, Acer, ASUS, Compal, Dell, Fujitsu/Toshiba, ZTE, and Huawei to increasingly expand (or introduce) their WinPhone product range offerings to drive that.
>> Windows Phone 7 Mango Heats Up With Plethora of Coming Handsets
Nokia, HTC, LG, Acer, Huawei, ZTE and Samsung hope to overwhelm Apple, give fight to Google
Jason Mick
Daily Tech
July 29, 2011
p1.dl.sl.pt
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is viewed by many as the slumbering giant of the smartphone market. With arguably the most innovative interface available on a smartphone today, the platform is mainly lacking in polish and selection.
The company's answer to those shortcomings is one word -- Mango. Mango -- the Windows Phone 7.1 update -- promises more of everything good about Windows 7; more polish (notably third party multi-tasking, third party tiles, streamlined Office software, and a dramatically improved HTML5-ready browser) and more phones.
As far as the more phones part of the equation, we're starting to get a feel for what's in store when Mango launches in September. Among the high-profile players to commit to Mango devices are Nokia Oyj, Samsung Electronics, HTC, LG Electronics, Acer, ZTE, and Huawei technologies. Fujitsu,and Dell, Inc. (DELL) are also rumored to be preparing designs.
HTC, perhaps a bit concerned about its legal troubles with its Android OS line, is diving deep into Mango with multiple handsets. Two low-end models -- the keyboard equipped Prime and the touchscreen-only Ignite have been spotted after being accidentally posted by Dutch retailer Phone House. Both phones pack a lowly 800 MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 5MP camera, and 3.7-inch LCD display.
Moving to the cream of the crop, HTC will be pushing the definition of a "smart phone" with its giant "Eternity" handset. With a whopping 4.7-inch SLCD screen, the Eternity is almost the Windows Phone 7 tablet which some users have demanded. It will pack a 1.5GHz single-core Snapdragon processor, 16GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, and a 1.3MP front camera. This handset will surely prompt debate over whether slower Android phones with more cores are "better" or whether a faster single core is better suited for a smart phone. Images of the Eternity have already leaked.
Samsung, meanwhile is preparing a model with a slide-out bottom keyboard, the SGH-i677. Little is known about the specs or official name, at this point. Likewise, the hardware for Nokia's much-anticipated "Sea Ray" -- rumored to launch in October at Nokia World -- is unknown.
If Microsoft can flood the market with high quality offerings, it could overwhelm Apple, Inc. (AAPL) to seize second place -- something DailyTech and a number of top analysts predicted [1][2] would happen within the next couple of years. From there the company can move on to challenging Google Inc.'s (GOOG) prolific Android platform for world domination.
Windows Phone 7, officially hit its release to manufacturing (RTM) build just days ago. It appears on pace to meet its planned release schedule. ###
Fasten your seat belt. By 2013 Microsoft will start to turn the MID Tablet world upside down with "Big Windows " (as Stephen Elop called Win8-ARM with the evolving Metro UI that drives WinPhone, in the last CC).
I'm gone walkabout. Catch ya on the flip flop.
Cheers,
- Eric - |
