Windows Mobile Devices Growing 64 Percent in the First Quarter of 2007

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3865' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3865</a><br /><br /></div>"Shipments of Windows Mobile PDAs grew 64 percent in the first quarter of 2007, and this strong growth helped propel worldwide PDA shipments to 5.1 million units, a 39.7 percent increase from the first quarter of 2006, according to recently released report by Gartner, Inc. <br />Research In Motion continued to lead the PDA market, but its product mix has shifted toward smartphones, with the BlackBerry Pearl representing about 55 percent of RIM's total shipments in the first quarter of 2007. As such, RIM's PDA shipments were essentially flat."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/paxton-20070524-windows jump.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />I've had a Blackberry and a Nokia smartphone and I've sold them both. I'm a Windows Mobile fan all the way so it's no surprise to me that there has been such a significant sales jump in the first quarter of 2007. According to the article at the Unwired, Windows Mobile devices have sold 1.2 million more units than this same time last year. I'm sure the Q, Dash, Blackjack, and the Vox have helped considerably. :D

[randalllewis]

I have gone back and forth with Windows Mobile. I owned a Casio Windows CE PDA way back when, the first Motorola MX200 smartphone, and the Cingular 2125. In response to various frustrations or just finding the devices not that useful, I've owned RAZR's and Blackberrys in between the Windows devices.

Most recently I gave up the 2125 for a Blackberry because my employer wont employ an Exchange server for push e-mail in addition to the Blackberry server we use. But after 6 months of using the Berry, I am back in the Windows camp with the Blackjack.

People can gripe all they want about Windows but I defy anyone to use Win Mobile and then tell me that Blackberry UI is not awkward and inefficient. Win Mobile runs rings around it and I have concluded that automatically getting my email isn't worth the extra hassles of using a Blackberry. Until my employer becomes more enlightened, I will just check the email manually once in a while.

Happily back in the Windows world for keeps!

[mbranscum]

...I defy anyone to use Win Mobile and then tell me that Blackberry UI is not awkward and inefficient. Win Mobile runs rings around it and I have concluded that automatically getting my email isn't worth the extra hassles of using a Blackberry.

Before I say this, please, don't throw any darts at me. First off, I have owned several WM devices including the Cingular 8125, 2125, 3125, Blackjack, MPX220 and Audiovox smartphones.

I recently aquired a RIM 8100 (Pearl) smartphone. I had never owned a BB before so I was sceptical. However it has been a very pleasant experience. The phone just "works." I have had no lock ups, freezes, reboots, or dropped calls. Right now I have a messenger program signed in 24/7 to five IM sites, RSS feeder running pullling feeds every 15 minutes, push mail, weather being updated every 15 minutes and from 7am to 11pm, at the end of the day I have 50% battery left.

There are some things on the BB that are not as smooth and others that I like better than WM. But overall I have to say it does a better job than any of the above listed devices.

Now I am awaiting the WM6 upday for my Blackjack to see if anything improves, namely the dropped call problem. :)

Personally, I really like WM devices, but Microsoft is going to have to work better with their phone providers to get some of the rough spots smoothed out if they ever want to make serious headway into other market segments.

[jctune]

"Research In Motion continued to lead the PDA market, but its product mix has shifted toward smartphones, with the BlackBerry Pearl representing about 55 percent of RIM's total shipments in the first quarter of 2007. As such, RIM's PDA shipments were essentially flat."

Isn't that statement kind of a stretch though? Where there is a definite difference between Windows Mobile Smartphone and Pocket PC - that distinction doesn't exist in the BlackBerry world (I don't think).

People can gripe all they want about Windows but I defy anyone to use Win Mobile and then tell me that Blackberry UI is not awkward and inefficient. Win Mobile runs rings around it

Don't get me wrong - I've been a Windows Mobile fan since Smartphone 2002 - but these statements always amuse me. The BlackBerry excels at what it does - that is get you your email. BlackBerry still kills WM when it comes to one-handed use, and overall it is still a more stable platform. While the BlackBerry UI has a steeper learning curve than WM, once you've learned how to use it I've always found it to be more efficient.

[Pete Paxton]

I think many of these comments depend on the user. As mentioned, I've had a Blackberry and I know how email works as well as one-handed use and I am just as happy with my email and as comfortable with one-handed use with my dash. It's just that I feel that WM does so much more. If a Blackberry meets someone's needs, I think that's great. It just doesn't meet my needs the way my Dash does. Oh and I've had my Dash for 6 months and I think it's frozen 3 times. I can live with that.