IDC cuts 2011 Windows Phone forecast — still thinks Microsoft will be No. 2 worldwide in 2015
Analysis agency IDC is out with new projections for the smartphone market, sticking to its prediction that Microsoft’s Windows Phone will be the No. 2 working system worldwide by 2015 — forward of Apple’s iPhone however properly behind Google’s Android, which is projected to have greater than 40 % of the market.
Nevertheless, the agency’s projection for Windows Phone (and Windows Cellular) market share for the present yr has fallen from 5.5 percent a few months ago to three.8 % in the newest report — reflecting the Microsoft’s platform’s battle to search out its footing out of the gate.
See this enterprising report by PC Mag for insights into that battle. Reporter Sarah Yin discovered that salespeople in retail shops are basically treating the Windows Phone units as second-class residents to Android units, in explicit.
IDC’s new long-term forecast for Microsoft, 20.3 % market share in 2015, is down barely from a few months ago, when IDC pegged the Redmond firm’s 2015 quantity at 20.7 %. In predicting that Microsoft will grow to be No. 2 in 2015, IDC is relying closely on the influence of Microsoft’s partnership with Nokia, which will make Windows Phone the cellular large’s main smartphone working system.
From the newest IDC report …
“Windows Phone 7/Windows Cellular will profit from Nokia’s assist, scope, and breadth inside markets the place Nokia has traditionally had a robust presence. Till Nokia begins introducing Windows Phone-powered smartphones in giant volumes in 2012, Windows Phone 7/Windows Cellular will solely seize a small share of the market as the discharge of Mango-powered smartphones are usually not anticipated to achieve the market till late 2011. Nonetheless, assuming that Nokia’s transition to Windows Phone goes easily, the OS is anticipated to defend a quantity 2 rank and greater than 20% share in 2015.”
Mango is the next version of Windows Phone, due out later this yr.
Right here’s IDC’s up to date forecast chart.
IDC’s (barely lowered) confidence however, Nokia is trying lower than rock-solid lately, recently dropping its sales forecasts in the face of competitors from Android.
In associated information, Microsoft is courting Android developers with a brand new software to assist convey their apps to Windows Phone. One other notable merchandise: Microsoft is (*2*) by way of the web Microsoft Retailer.