Even though Microsoft’s CEO has admitted that Windows Phone sales have been small, the platform just received a high-profile endorsement from Verizon Communications CEO Lowell McAdam.
“The carriers are beginning to coalesce around the need for a third ecosystem,” said McAdam at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference, according to InformationWeek. “Over the next 12 months I think it will coalesce and you will start to see one emerge as a legitimate third ecosystem. In my opinion, it’ll be between RIM and Microsoft, and I expect Microsoft to come out victorious.”
When Windows Phone 7 debuted last year, we liked the platform because we felt it was a fresh take on mobile computing and was very visually pleasing. There were still a few flaws in the platform that should be fixed with the upcoming Mango update but I doubt the lack of third-party multitasking was what kept it from being commercially successful.
Instead, Windows Phone suffered from a lack of absolutely killer hardware, good marketing and a strong retail presence. New Mango-powered devices like the Titan look great but those concerned about just specs will probably move to the latest and greatest Android phone. The marketing angle can also be solved but let’s just hope Microsoft doesn’t turn to Jerry Seinfeld again.
As for the strong retail presence, the Verizon CEO’s endorsement should help with that, as we’ve heard horror stories about carrier representatives steering people away from Windows Phone in favor of the iPhone or Android. Let’s see if that changes.
[Via InformationWeek]