Microsoft appears to be cutting its losses in the smartphone market while it prepares to re-enter the race alongside new partner Nokia.
According to comScore, Microsoft has seceded 38 percent of the global smartphone market since it released its Windows Phone 7 mobile OS last October. In June, the company’s market share stood at just 5.8 percent, down 1.7 percent from March. In comparison, during that same period, rivals Google and Apple grew 5.4 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.
An InformationWeek report on the statistics spells doom for Microsoft, questioning how many manufacturers offering smartphones “will consider it worth supporting Windows Phone 7.”
Furthermore, the decline could be a sign that Microsoft’s troubles may be more serious than just a slow period.
“That’s doubly troubling for Redmond, because the numbers also include Windows Mobile devices that are still in use,” InformationWeek claimed. “Actual sales are difficult to measure as Microsoft does not release such data.”
However, industry analysts foresee long-term success for Microsoft’s mobile endeavors. Research firm IDC believes Windows Phone 7 will be the No. 2 mobile OS in the world by 2015.
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