14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is comfortable with how Windows Phone 7 stacks up against the competition, Achim Berg, corporate vice president, Mobile Communications Business and Marketing Group revealed.
And why wouldn’t it be? According to the first sales figures release by the Redmond company its manufacturing partners are selling about 36,000 devices per day.
Microsoft has been holding off from releasing any statistics on the success of Windows Phone 7 devices since launch, but as the number of units sold jumped over the 1.5 million milestone after the first six weeks after the WP7 launch, the software giant went public with the data.
However, Berg refused to compare the success of Windows Phone 7 devices with that of rival phones based only on sales.
“It’s a bit of apples and oranges comparison; our numbers are similar to the performance of other first generation mobile platforms,” he stated.
Instead, Berg emphasizes that this is just the start of the road for the software giant, this despite the fact that the Redmond company is one of the established players on the mobile market.
Still, Microsoft did manage to fall so far behind rivals such as Apple and Google that the launch of Windows Phone 7 can feel pretty much like being back at the start line.
“We introduced a new platform with Windows Phone 7, and when you do that it takes time to educate partners and consumers on what you’re delivering, and drive awareness and interest in your new offering,” Berg added.
“We’re comfortable with where we are, and we are here for the long run; Windows Phone 7 is just the beginning. Our opportunity is to make sure people get to play with a Windows Phone. Once they do, they love it. This is very important for us.”
I can tell you from my own experience that trying a new Windows Phone 7 device is guaranteed to surprise you.
Essentially, Windows Phone 7 is in another league compared to its predecessor, Windows Mobile 6.5, platform-wise.
According to sales figures Apple sold 1 million iPhone units in 74 days after launch, with Google’s Android passing the 660,000 sold devices mark in late 2008, just after it was introduced.
Of course, each of these companies has approached the market in a completely different manner, and this is why comparing sales figures will not necessarily produce a valid measure of any of the platforms’ success over its rivals.
“We are on a path to begin releasing the first of several updates in the next couple of months, and several more mobile operators around the world will introduce Windows Phone 7 on their network in 2011 and we will have a broader portfolio of devices from phone manufacturers at different price points delivering on our commitment of providing customers choice.
“We believe doing these things right will lead to continued success,” Berg added.