Windows Phone 7 is the first version of the Windows Phone mobile client operating system, and it was released worldwide on October 21, 2010, with the US option following on November 8, 2010. The Windows CE 6.0 kernel powers it. But did you know, as a marketing stint, Microsoft held a mock funeral for the iPhone?
Microsoft held a mock funeral for the iPhone because they thought the Windows Phone 7 would smash Apple sales.
Microsoft: The Apple Killer, or Not
Microsoft officially unveiled the new operating system, Windows Phone 7 Series, on February 15, 2010, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and revealed additional details at MIX 2010 on March 15, 2010. On September 16, 2010, the final SDK was made available.
HP later decided not to build devices for Windows Phone, citing a desire to focus on its newly acquired webOS. Because its original name was deemed too complex and wordy, the operating system’s name was officially shortened to Windows Phone 7 on April 2, 2010.
On October 11, 2010, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the ten Windows Phone 7 launch devices from HTC, Dell, Samsung, and LG, with sales beginning on October 21, 2010, in Europe and Australia and November 8, 2010, in the United States.
The devices were made available on 60 carriers in 30 countries, with more to follow in 2011. Following the release of Windows Phone 7’s Mango revision, additional manufacturers, including Acer, Fujitsu, and ZTE, became partners.
Windows Phone initially supported twenty-five languages, with applications available in 35 countries and regions via the Windows Phone Store. Additional language and region support were added to the OS via the Mango and Tango updates, respectively. (Source: CNET)
Poor Sales from Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7
After poring over Microsoft’s annual report, released in 2011, the news site calculated a total revenue of $613 million for the fiscal year, including Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7, Zune, Mediaroom, Surface, and hardware.
If the Zune and other non-mobile items are excluded, Microsoft’s mobile operating systems actually delivered less than $613 million.
Microsoft did not respond immediately to CNET’s request for comment on the Seattle PI story.
Microsoft has kept Windows Phone 7 sales to a minimum. Its most recent report was in January, when the company stated that it had sold more than 2 million Windows Phone 7 devices since the OS’s release in October. However, that figure only included handsets sold to mobile operators and retailers, not necessarily to end users.
As Seattle PI points out, comparing Windows Phone sales directly to the competition is challenging. Apple sells its hardware and adds revenue from agreements with mobile carriers and iPhone accessories to its third-quarter revenue of $13.3 billion.
Because the Android mobile platform is free for smartphone manufacturers, Google’s revenue for Android is primarily derived from advertising.
In response to the Seattle PI story, WP Central suggests that Windows Phone sales may not be as bad as they appear, at least when compared to Android. (Source: CNET)
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