Shipments of Windows Mobile Handsets to Triple by 2013

A recently published report from iSuppli Corp. shows that Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system is expected to be present on three times more handsets by 2013, compared to the amount of mobile phones that run under it at the moment. Moreover, the report also shows that, although the OS will only be positioned on the third place on the market this year, it will manage to regain the second position by 2013.

The number of smartphones that will reach the market in 2013 with Windows Mobile on board is expected to be of around 67.9 million units, three times more than the 27.7 million handsets that will be based on the platform in 2009. According to iSuppli, this will enable the OS to account for around 15.3 percent of the global smartphone market, which will be led by Symbian with 47.6 percent market share.

“Windows Mobile is facing a host of challenges, including rising competition from free alternatives like Symbian and Android, the loss of some key licensees and some shortcomings in its user interface,” said Tina Teng, senior wireless communications analyst at iSuppli. “However, Windows Mobile holds some major cards that will allow it to remain a competitive player in the market.”

According to Tina Teng, the success of Windows Mobile is based on the suite of offerings it comes to the market with, and which cannot be matched by its competitors, especially in a mobile environment that praises “device support, an application store, a broad portfolio of applications and support from the developer community.” Microsoft helps clients customize and integrate software solutions into WM through a series of services, something that Symbian and Android do not offer to OEMs, iSuppli says.

The recent licensee losses are not expected to affect Windows Mobile's market share too much on the long term. While Palm and Motorola left the boat, LG climbed aboard, and Microsoft gained the third mobile phone maker in the world on its side. There are 14 OEM licensees that Windows Mobile can list, the larger number in the industry, followed by Symbian with ten. “In terms of licensees, Windows Mobile remains in a very strong position in the smart-phone operating system market,” Teng said.