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Windows Phone 8 OS Launched

News Article - Tuesday, 30 October 2012 11:43

By: Kerry Butters Category: Connectivity

Microsoft has launched their newest version of the Windows Phone operating system, with handsets going on sale in Europe over the weekend. The phones will be available to the rest of the world during November, in time for the festive season rush.

Consumers and businesses alike will have a huge amount of choice this Xmas as Surface is also to be released, along with the iPad Mini and next generation iPad, the new Nexus range from Google and of course, the Amazon Kindle range, along with a plethora of Android-based devices.

Microsoft claim that the handset’s browser, IE 10, will be "the fastest on mobile” and said that there was improved integration with VoIP software, Skype.

However, apps will most likely to be where Microsoft fall down on sales, due to a lack of availability. In the last quarter, MS had a 3.1% share of the smartphone market, which is tiny when compared to iOS and Android.

"It can't be underestimated how important it is to Microsoft to get a successful handheld platform," Ben Wood, director of research at CCS Insight, told the BBC.

"It's the fastest growing and most prolific sector - 800 million smartphones will be sold this year, within three years that number will be up to one billion annually. Nokia has also bet the ranch on this at a time when the market is dominated by Apple and Google's systems - and Microsoft is seen as being late to the party."

Developers have been slow to race to develop apps for W8, so only time will tell whether Microsoft can develop an app ecosystem to rival those of Apple and Google. The struggle that RIM have had to attract devs despite offering a $10,000 bonus for the BlackBerry 10 OS has highlighted this.

Whatever the case, it seems we’re in for an interesting time over the holiday period when it comes to the tablet and smartphone markets, with more competition appearing all the time. Especially with 4G rolling out this week from EE and further networks competing in the 4G auctions being held by Ofcom late this year.

• 4G
• Apple
• BlackBerry
• Microsoft
• Mobile Broadband
• Mobile Device
• Smartphone

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