04-23-2003, 11:54 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,177
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Smart Phones On Top, Windows CE Out-ships Palm OS, Battle Ahead
The EMEA numbers are in from the research firm Canalys, and it is both good and terrible news for the Pocket PC and Windows CE camp. I will share some thoughts related to the report, but I am already looking forward to see Ed Hansberry's comments! 8)
The highlights include:
"- EMEA mobile device shipments in Q1 2003 up 125% on Q1 2002
- Nokia retains overall lead, but joined by smart phone vendors Sony Ericsson and Orange in top five
- Handheld/wireless handheld segment shows growth of 10%
- Palm remains the leading handheld vendor, but with shipments almost flat on one year ago"
The 125% overall market growth is astonishing. I remember reading not too long ago that sales of mobile devices was believed to be on a long term slip. We find two contributing factors behind the growth: Symbian (+799%) and Windows CE (+62%). Symbian's (Nokia, Sony Ericsson, etc) growth is on one hand from a poor Q1 2002 but on the other hand a growth that puts them in the lead of the total market. The total market is, in number of shipments, dominated by "smart phones" and as can be seen below, Symbian is not categorized at all in the "Data-centric"-category (PDAs and hybrids).
Windows CE out-ships, for the first time even in volume, Palm OS in the "Data-centric"-category as well as in the total market. Dell and ViewSonic is mentioned in the report from Canalys: "Dell was one of the new entrants in Q1, taking 2% share of the overall EMEA mobile device market with its Axim handhelds. Jones added: "For its first quarter, Dell made a good start. There was obviously some pent-up demand for a low-cost Pocket PC, but other vendors are already responding. Dell will need to broaden its product range if it wants to enjoy sustained success in this market."
It is a clear trend that Microsoft is winning in the "Data-centric"-category and I would expect to see the same development in the rest of the world. However, it is even more clear that the real battle for volume and revenue is not taking place in the PDA grounds but in the "Voice-centric" / "smart phone"-category. It is actually a very positive surprise to see that Microsoft has 7% of this market and has sold more than 62,170 Smartphones, which I assume the number represents. But in order to deal with, even just keep up, Symbian's massive growth that is to be expected, Microsoft definately needs to shift into higher gears. Microsoft is losing in the "Voice centric" / "smart phone" market, not winning. We need to see radical things happening to turn this around.
That said, let's celebrate the great Pocket PC numbers! It took three years and we've just begun!
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04-23-2003, 12:42 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Re: Smart Phones On Top, Windows CE Out-ships Palm OS, Battle Ahead
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Andy Sjostrom
I will share some thoughts related to the report, but I am already looking forward to see Ed Hansberry's comments! 8)
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Andy, Andy, Andy. :|
I need to help you with your headlines. Something like:
BOOYA!!!!! Pocket PC outsells Palm Devices in EMEA!!!
or
Pocket PC Rockets Ahead Of Palm
or
Windows CE Device Volume Crushes Palm in EMEA Data AND Voice Centric Devices
Mwahahahahahahahhahahhahahaha..... :wink: :lol:
Seriously, this is great news. :clap: Pocket PC beat Palm back in 2001 too when the iPAQ hit their full production capabilities of 100,000 units a month and Yankowski totally bungled the M500 series launch, but this is, I believe, the first time Pocket PC volume is ahead of Palm with no special things going on.
And you're right - now attention needs to turn to the smartphone market. Symbian hasn't won yet. They were just first to market. Let us see how 2003 and 2004 goes first. 
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04-23-2003, 12:46 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1
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RE: smart phone sales vis a vis pdas. Think of the ad $$ going into the smartphones, cameraphones et al. When's the last time you saw an iPaq ad on prime time. They're not trying to mass market pdas. I think they're trying to sneak them in through the back door by making them a work place appliance.
Just my .02.
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04-23-2003, 01:02 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,177
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gmsatty
RE: smart phone sales vis a vis pdas. Think of the ad $$ going into the smartphones, cameraphones et al. When's the last time you saw an iPaq ad on prime time. They're not trying to mass market pdas. I think they're trying to sneak them in through the back door by making them a work place appliance.
Just my .02.
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I couldn't agree more! But look at the ad $$ spent on smart phones, camera phones etc that are non MS based vs those that are MS based. Microsoft... hello!?
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04-23-2003, 01:21 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,185
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One point that I'd like to clarify and I believe I already know the answer to.
Is this data specifically units "shipped" or is it units "bought/sold?" Clearly, if it's units shipped, perception of success could be a bit skewed.
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04-23-2003, 05:02 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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I want a recount. Let the Florida state canvasing board handle the process, and the we'll see who comes out ahead. Dimpled chads are acceptable. :twisted:
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04-23-2003, 05:14 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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I don't want to throw a wrench in this, but Windows CE reaches well beyond Pocket PC. Are these numbers using PPC exclusively...or do they include other hardware running on CE as well?
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04-23-2003, 05:48 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Foo Fighter
I don't want to throw a wrench in this, but Windows CE reaches well beyond Pocket PC. Are these numbers using PPC exclusively...or do they include other hardware running on CE as well?
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I honestly don't know. If this were a report on Asia, there would be no doubt that there are tons of Windows CE devices the aren't Pocket PC. In Europe though, the only thing that could be watering this down are the last remnants of the HPC.
Keep in mind this is PDAs. So Windows CE based VCRs or the control systems in the BMW 7 series are not included in these numbers.
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04-23-2003, 05:57 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 90
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Those Symbian figures are pretty impressive - 900% growth!!!
Sorry that was slightly off-topic  ops:
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04-23-2003, 06:05 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ben
Those Symbian figures are pretty impressive - 900% growth!!!
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Indeed, and it echos what Microsoft has been saying for quite some time - Palm isn't the real competition long-term - it's the Symbian camp with Nokia...that's the real 900 pound gorilla in this market.
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