NY Times Explains Why Windows Mobile Is In Trouble

Om Malik of the NYTimes.com has written an article explaining why he thinks that Windows Mobile is in trouble. Treo Central’s sister site WMExperts reported back in September that Windows Mobile 7.0 would be delayed. According to the NYTimes, VentureBeat reported that WM 7 could be delayed as late as 2010. Malik says that WM 7, which was aimed at giving Microsoft a bigger presence on the mobile stage, wouldn’t have been enough, delayed or not. He says that Windows Mobile is facing its toughest environment yet with competition from RIM’s BlackBerry, Apple’s iPhone, and mainly the new Google Phone platform.

From the article:

I’m not saying that Windows Mobile is no longer relevant. What I am saying is that Microsoft’s grand mobile ambitions might have to come down a few notches. Just like open-source server software made it impossible for Microsoft to extend its stranglehold to servers and the back-end infrastructure business, these newer mobile platforms will act as speed barriers to Microsoft’s mobile ambitions.

Malik goes on to talk about research firm Gartner’s recently released market share data for the second quarter, showing that RIM’s market share shot way up. He noted that this was even before RIM figured out its game and announced a bunch of devices aimed at higher-end consumers. You can read up on all those BlackBerry devices over at our sister site CrackBerry.com. If there is even the slightest whisper about a new BlackBerry, Kevin will have it covered and has probably already gotten the full lowdown on it. 😉

Malik talks about T-Mobile pre-selling 1.5 million G-1 phones and how he got a chance to play with a G-1 recently. He seems pretty impressed with the G-1. Malik says that Google’s Android is a direct competitor to Windows Mobile. In fact he says that it’s “Windows Mobile done right”.

You can read the full article here.

[From Treocentral]