iPhone Outsells Windows Mobile in Q3 2008

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200812040446DOWJONESDJONLINE000411_FORTUNE5.htm' target='_blank'>http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds...11_FORTUNE5.htm</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The success of iPhone 3G sales in the third quarter of 2008 propelled the Mac OS X to the No. 3 position in the global OS provider rankings. For the first time, iPhone sales exceeded sales of Microsoft Windows Mobile devices worldwide and in North America. In the shorter term, open-source initiatives like Android and Symbian Foundation will challenge Windows Mobile's licensing model. In addition, the lack of a competitive user interface will continue to limit Microsoft's mobile device usability when facing competitive consumer smartphones."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1228481850.usr18053.jpg" /></p><p>The interesting part here isn't that Apple has started to take prominence in the market.&nbsp; I don't even find that one bit interesting or surprising.&nbsp; What I do find surprising, however, is that given the sheer volume of manufacturers and models of Windows Mobile handsets, Apple is still outselling them with, essentially, two phones (the original and the 3G).</p><p>A few months back, Don Reisinger had one of the Windows Mobile folks on his podcast, and in the podcast he laughed off the iPhone.&nbsp; He said it was a meaningless phone and a flash in the pan and then proceeded to say that it was unfair to compare Windows Mobile to the iPhone because Windows Mobile is an OS and is installed on many more phones than Apple's offering.&nbsp; In essence, the OS mattered, not the hardware.&nbsp; Now here we are a few months later, and Apple is now moving toward the top, and their phone is outselling Windows Mobile handsets (for now).</p><p>What a difference a few months makes, right?</p><p>Understand, I have no animice toward the Windows Mobile handset market.&nbsp; My first gig with Thoughts Media was writing for PocketPC Thoughts.&nbsp; I do think, however, that Microsoft really needs to get off their collective tushes and get Windows Mobile going again because as of right now, the competition they're dismissive of is starting to gain ground and quickly.</p>

[doogald]

Well, I think that it is very possible that the iPhone's Q3 sales were higher than they might have been because there were a lot of people who held off for the 3G when it was released in July. I do not necessarily think that this means that Q4 sales will drop below WM and RIM, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

[Macguy59]

Too bad you felt the need to issue a disclaimer Vincent. This is after all an Apple focused site. Kudo's to Apple. Normally when Apple has success with a new hardware product it's dismissed as being driven by "fanatically loyal Apple fans". It's pretty clear that Apple's continued growth is fueled by an expanding customer base.

[dh]

I must say that the iPhone deserves its success.

While I'm hardly an Apple fanboy (the only previous Apple product I owned was the original iMac which I converted to Yellow Dog Linux),we have 5 PCs in our 3 person household and I sell Symbol and Intermec Windows devices in my day job. The iPhone designers have just done a fantastic job (ha ha that's almost a pun!!) with this product.

I had used WM for years, starting with the Axim X5 and ending with the HP6940 (I used this for ages, not that I loved it but because I wasn't excited about anything new that came along). I also used Pocket Informant to control my life. My wife has the original iPhone and really doesn't like it, so I had some concerns when I bought my 3G.

Everyone knows that there are a few shortcomings with iPhone but I have been pleasantly surprised by how easily I have been able to get it to do just about everything I need. All my calendar items, tasks and notes are always in sync (although I will get PI when Alex finally finishes it), the phone actually works (more than could be said for the original iPhone) and the email is usable.

The screen is great for video - we have a wedding photography business and showing potential clients our slideshows on the iPhone is a fantastic selling feature.

iPhone wouldn't need too much to be pretty close to perfect for me - a slide out keyboard, a more robust email app (FlexMail would be very nice thanks), allow developers to use more of the native data, copy & paste and we are there.

If nothing else, iPhone has been a wake up call for the smartphone industry. Sorry guys, you can't keep bringing out new models of the same old stuff anymore. WM is already getting better as a result, RIM trying new formfactors as well. I'm very happy that Apple did it. It is nice to have a mobile device to actually be excited about again!

[Snowmation]

Windows Mobile is a very powerful Phone/PDA OS, but the UI feels very dated and the truth is most users will never really have need for all the powerf under the hood so its not really all that surprising that the iPhone is now doing better than Windows Mobile.

I'm a Tilt user (with a cooked Rom cause HTC can't do speedy rotation to save their lives) and I'm quite happy with it, but I can't knock anyone for digging the iPhone more than Windows Mobile.

[Daring]

I agree Apple deserves the success they have in the iPhone. It has delivered a solid product at a very competitive price (a $99/4 GB phone would be killer). That said, I too am a WM convert and I must tell you the locked down nature of the iPhone is killing me. Being able to upload documents that all apps can use, copy/paste, voicedial (important in cold climates with gloves), and stereo bluetooth, and application trials in the appstore top my list.

Still I bought the iPhone because I believe it comes the closest to ideal of any smartphone presently on the market and for the near term future. I truly hope that WM gets back on track and for that matter Symbian and Android grow into mature well thought out UIs. Competition is good.

All my calendar items, tasks and notes are always in sync (although I will get PI when Alex finally finishes it), the phone actually works (more than could be said for the original iPhone) and the email is usable.


DH, how are you synching your tasks?

[ptyork]

Daring pretty much echos my thoughts exactly. I went by the AT&T store yesterday and was SOOO disappointed by the WM offerings in terms of usability and fit'n'finish. The iPhone 3G just FEELS great in the hand and operates "smooth as butter." But I want WM's power and flexibility with Apples "lickability." I guess that's always been the deal with the two companies, but it is more obvious in the iPhone vs. WM battle than anywhere/time else that I can remember since MS-DOS vs. MacOS.

To add to daring's list, I need the ability to have tasks run in the background, SHARE data, listen for each other's events, be "plug-in" capable, be able to run Flash/Silverlight/Java, etc. etc. etc. etc. I really find it funny to call this a smartphone rather than a glorified feature phone. It's a great phone, don't get me wrong, but as a development platform it is utter rubbish.

What amazes me the most is that it seems like MS is much closer to being able to offer what we need than is Apple (and certainly has a much more amenable philosophy), and yet MS can't even acknowledge their deficiencies. Cripes, even BB has a nice touch friendly OS now. Everyone and their brother has created a pretty decent, finger / slide shell for WM. How hard would it really be for MS to fully integrate this concept throughout the OS (must be since the crappy usability hasn't changed much in 10 years--not like folks haven't complained since day 1)? Hell, call it Windows Go or something instead of Mobile and forget backwards compatibility (obviously make it easy to upgrade--really it should just be a matter of remapping a few events and reworking some resource files). And for cryin' out loud, support capacitive touch! So much better (except with gloves, obviously). Perhaps WM 7 will have all of this and more, but we're looking at 2010 for devices. iPhone rev 3 will be out, Android will be mature and stealing developer love left and right, BBOS will be even better, and hell, maybe even Palm will be out with their new OS (yah, right!). Perhaps WM isn't a money maker for MS, but they sure are doing their best to lose their market share due to an inability to lose the stylus.

Rant mode off........

[Vincent Ferrari]

Too bad you felt the need to issue a disclaimer Vincent. This is after all an Apple focused site. Kudo's to Apple. Normally when Apple has success with a new hardware product it's dismissed as being driven by "fanatically loyal Apple fans". It's pretty clear that Apple's continued growth is fueled by an expanding customer base.

My disclaimer comes simply because every time I dare mention the competition, I end up getting skewered and beaten for it. I just wanted to head off the fanboy criticisms that inevitably follow any criticism of the competition ;-)

[Macguy59]

My disclaimer comes simply because every time I dare mention the competition, I end up getting skewered and beaten for it. I just wanted to head off the fanboy criticisms that inevitably follow any criticism of the competition ;-)

Come on man grow a pair :p We have your back !

[dh]

DH, how are you synching your tasks?

I'm using Toodledo for tasks. I signed up for a pro account with them and use their iPhone app as well (I actually prefer the Appigo ToDo on the iPhone but it currently does not support sub tasks).

I started using Toodledo after reading on Alex (from Web IS) blog that Pocket Informant for iPhone will be using the Toodledo sync. This way, it will be easy to drop PI into my workflow if I decide to go with it.

Currently, my iPhone syncs nicely to Toodledo and from there to Outlook. I also use Toodledo (dumb name but what can you do) to keep my notes in sync with Appigo Notebook on my phone.

I'm using NuevaSync for syncing my calendar and contacts which also works really nicely.

All in all, I'm better connected with iPhone than I ever was with WM.

[Pony99CA]

Understand, I have no animice toward the Windows Mobile handset market.&nbsp; My first gig with Thoughts Media was writing for PocketPC Thoughts.&nbsp; I do think, however, that Microsoft really needs to get off their collective tushes and get Windows Mobile going again because as of right now, the competition they're dismissive of is starting to gain ground and quickly.
I'm not sure what cartoon mice have to do with this (unless you meant animus (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animus) ;)), but you're right. Microsoft needs to do something to recapture mind share.

My disclaimer comes simply because every time I dare mention the competition, I end up getting skewered and beaten for it. I just wanted to head off the fanboy criticisms that inevitably follow any criticism of the competition ;-)
It's not mentioning the competition that gets hate mail -- it's denigrating them. This time you weren't too bad, though. ;) (Although, personally, I think your signature speaks louder than any disclaimer....)

Steve

[crimsonsky]

Apps, Apps, Apps! This is what makes WM so compelling for me. I've used WM devices for years and I've not yet found a platform with the variety and utility of WM applications. Laridian is going to release a version of Pocket Bible for the iPhone (they have their web app which is really very good), so one of the huge apps I'd want is in the works. But notes - there's nothing like PhatNotes in the App Store that I've seen and that is really an essential application for me.

The iPhone has a lot going for it and Apple has seemingly hit a chord with the buying public that WM never got. Part of it has to do with the dizzying array of devices that carry the WM moniker and the confusion over the three flavours of WM. Even those WM devices that are touch driven can't entirely hide the WM UI and need for using a stylus in the Professional version. And let's face it - few, if any, WM devices have the sheer elegance of the iPhone in physical form factor and UI. I don't own an iPhone and don't plan on getting one near term, but the device is compelling.

I still use my Wing as a PDA, in spite of its shortcomings. However, if anything like PhatNotes ever shows up in the App Store, I may reconsider getting another iPod Touch.

[Vincent Ferrari]

I'm not sure what cartoon mice have to do with this (unless you meant animus (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animus) ;)), but you're right. Microsoft needs to do something to recapture mind share.

No, I meant animice. Mickeycrosoft makes Windows Mobile. I know what I'm talking about!

It's not mentioning the competition that gets hate mail -- it's denigrating them. This time you weren't too bad, though. ;) (Although, personally, I think your signature speaks louder than any disclaimer....)

Steve

Eh. The signature is just tongue-in-cheek stuff. ;)

[doogald]

But notes - there's nothing like PhatNotes in the App Store that I've seen and that is really an essential application for me.

I really like Evernote (http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-10118704-12.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDownloadBlog) myself. The price is definitely right (http://www.evernote.com/) and you can't beat the cross-platformishness (I use it on Mac and my WM phone), too.

[Pony99CA]

Apps, Apps, Apps! This is what makes WM so compelling for me. I've used WM devices for years and I've not yet found a platform with the variety and utility of WM applications.
True -- for now. However, I just read somewhere that there are now 10,000 apps in the iPhone App Store. WM has what, 15,000, 20,000, maybe 25,000? (Handango lists 12,229 apps for my iPAQ hx2795 and another 400+ for my Motorola Q9m.) So the iPhone is catching up quickly.

I think those iPhone app commercials are pretty good, too. I'd love an application like the one that identifies songs just by holding the iPhone up to the radio (Shazam?).

Steve