14 DAY TRIAL // Last week at the IFA 2014 trade fair in Berlin, Microsoft made official two new smartphones running under the Windows Phone operating system, namely the Lumia 830 and Lumia 730/735, along with a new software update for Nokia devices, Lumia Denim.
After the launch event, we had the chance to exchange a few words with Florian Seihe, head of Sales for Europe, Microsoft, who shared some info on Microsoft’s plans for the Windows Phone OS and for devices running under it.
At the moment, the company’s mobile platform is the third largest in the world, trailing only Android and iOS, and Microsoft appears very happy with that.
Microsoft needs to increase the number of Windows Phone users
However, things are not as encouraging when it comes to market share, as Windows Phone accounts only for around 3 percent of all smartphones out there, while Android and iOS are all well into the two-digits area.
As it turns out, the software giant is aware of this state of facts, and is determined to attract as many users as possible to its side.
According to Florian Seihe, Microsoft is currently focused on increasing the number of users on Windows Phone, so as to catch up with said rival platforms.
For that, it will ensure that people have a great portfolio to opt for, and that includes both devices and software alike, it seems.
According to Sehie, Microsoft “needs to grow the [Windows Phone] ecosystem on its own” at the moment. The newly announced Lumia 830 and Lumia 730/735 are examples in this direction.
Other vendors are welcome to join the platform too
Even so, all mobile phone makers willing to embrace the Windows Phone operating system are welcome to do so, he said.
For those out of the loop, we should note that Microsoft has already made a move in this direction, through waving the licensing fees for all vendors interested in launching Windows Phone handsets.
This encouraged companies such as HTC, LG, ZTE, Alcatel, Micromax, XOLO, and many others to partner with the Redmond-based giant, and some of them already released Windows Phone smartphones earlier this year.
Florian Seihe also mentioned that users who chose to switch to Windows Phone would enjoy a premium experience and hardware at lower price points than what the competition would have to offer.
Upcoming Microsoft phones could lack the Nokia Lumia branding
Moving forth, we should see Microsoft launching more devices that will fall in line with said strategy, though it remains to be seen how many of these will continue to use the Nokia Lumia brand.
Seihe reiterated that Microsoft had licensed the Nokia and Lumia names for several years, but the company has already confirmed that a change in the branding of its smartphones will take place sooner or later.
No details on when that might happen have been provided as of now, or on what the next wave of handsets from the company will have to offer.
However, some of the latest reports on the matter have suggested that a new major platform release might arrive early next year, and chances are that new devices that will run under it right from the start will arrive then as well.