As competition heats up, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile seeks to protect turf

Although it is still not showing signs of panic even with the growing number of smartphones flooding the market, software giant Microsoft is quietly moving to protect its market share in the mobile space.

The US-based IT behemoth recently introduced a new line of Windows Mobile phones in the country which the company said is targeted at consumers who want to utilize their handsets for “work and play.”

Danny Ong, marketing director of Microsoft Philippines, said the company is not bothered by the emergence of new smartphone models in the market since these units actually increase the public’s awareness on smartphones.

Ong said that as consumers troop to stores to shop, they are likely to stumble upon or would consider a Windows Mobile phone as an option.

The executive stressed that Windows Mobile actually doubled its market share worldwide in the first quarter of 2009. In fact, the company said around 30 new phones were delivered to more than 20 countries by the end of 2009.

But, according to research report by analyst firm Gartner late last year, Apple’s iPhone has passed Windows Mobile in terms of global market share. The advent of Android-based phone such as HTC’s Hero and Google’s own Nexus One is also putting pressure on Microsoft’s phone operating system.

Ong, however, said Windows Mobile phones have a huge audience with business users who are eager to bring their work on the road but do not want to bring a laptop with them.

Although Ong admitted that RIM’s Blackberry has firmly positioned itself in the business segment and that it had “first-mover advantage,” he pointed out that Windows Mobile phones are more varied and can be used for business and personal purposes.

At a recent press briefing, Microsoft unveiled Windows Mobile-based handsets from HTC, Sony Ericsson, Cherry Mobile, Samsung, and LG.

The Windows phones, the company said, allow users to navigate their units with the touch of a finger and browse the Internet on a mobile browser. They can also connect to new services that allow them to back up and share data from their phone to the Web.

News Source:- http://www.mb.com.ph