4 ms·

I don't really see how Microsoft was out commoditized on the phone. It seems like the causes for Microsoft's loss were more straightforward, it was late to the

I don't really see how Microsoft was out commoditized on the phone. It seems like the causes for Microsoft's loss were more straightforward, it was late to the party, it was hampered by an existing product that wasn't great, and they mismanaged the hell out of the app store.

cheriot 8y ago
Iirc, they were charging for their mobile OS while Android was given away (only requiring the gsuite). MS was also later to launch an app store. So the mobile OS layer is where MS use to make money and it's what Android commoditized.
- noir_lord 8y ago
  Indeed, Microsoft already had the monopoly on desktop PC's when Linux took off so they could continue to hold it. Trying to compete in a new market against free was a much harder prospect (and they where not the only one, I had a Blackberry Playbook, it was for it's time an excellent device and the OS was intuitive and solid...it got murdered in the market). In fact unless you invent the category (iphone) you would be hard pressed to own it via the OS anymore.
  - zozbot123 8y ago
    Ultimately, it's commodities all the way down anyway. The only real "moat" that Apple's OS, MS's Windows desktop, Google services, etc. have is first-mover advantage, and that's not going to last very long.
- JamesBarney 8y ago
  Are you arguing that MS lost the smart phone race because they were too expensive? I don't know anyone who didn't buy a Windows Phone because of cost. They lost because finding good Windows Phone apps was difficult. This is why I stopped using a Windows Phone, and why everyone I know stopped using a Windows Phone. I could pick up a performant Windows Phone for $40, and I wasn't happy with my Android until I spent $200+. Not to mention one of the largest companies in the world right now makes most of it's money off of selling a mobile OS's.
  - around_here 8y ago
    I loved Windows Phone 8.1 Handset was cheap, performant, the OS was gorgeous and easy to use, typing was great. It's weird though. The apps are totally what did it, but I've found that I really don't use many apps on phones. My phone is littered with the, but my usage statistics say that I'm a slack ass when it comes to them. Basically just language applications.
HillaryBriss 8y ago
> it was late to the party But Windows Mobile was on phones well before Google got ahold of Android and got the Google Play Store up and running: In Q1 2003, Windows Mobile was the third largest operating system in the smart handheld market, behind Symbian and Palm OS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mobile#Market_share https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mobile#Market_share The earliest version of the Google Play Store was made available in 2008. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play#History
- JamesBarney 8y ago
  Late to the party with a good smart phone. I used windows mobile and it didn't compare to Windows Phone or Android.

cheriot 8y ago

Iirc, they were charging for their mobile OS while Android was given away (only requiring the gsuite). MS was also later to launch an app store. So the mobile OS layer is where MS use to make money and it's what Android commoditized.

noir_lord 8y ago
Indeed, Microsoft already had the monopoly on desktop PC's when Linux took off so they could continue to hold it. Trying to compete in a new market against free was a much harder prospect (and they where not the only one, I had a Blackberry Playbook, it was for it's time an excellent device and the OS was intuitive and solid...it got murdered in the market). In fact unless you invent the category (iphone) you would be hard pressed to own it via the OS anymore.
- zozbot123 8y ago
  Ultimately, it's commodities all the way down anyway. The only real "moat" that Apple's OS, MS's Windows desktop, Google services, etc. have is first-mover advantage, and that's not going to last very long.
JamesBarney 8y ago
Are you arguing that MS lost the smart phone race because they were too expensive? I don't know anyone who didn't buy a Windows Phone because of cost. They lost because finding good Windows Phone apps was difficult. This is why I stopped using a Windows Phone, and why everyone I know stopped using a Windows Phone. I could pick up a performant Windows Phone for $40, and I wasn't happy with my Android until I spent $200+. Not to mention one of the largest companies in the world right now makes most of it's money off of selling a mobile OS's.
- around_here 8y ago
  I loved Windows Phone 8.1 Handset was cheap, performant, the OS was gorgeous and easy to use, typing was great. It's weird though. The apps are totally what did it, but I've found that I really don't use many apps on phones. My phone is littered with the, but my usage statistics say that I'm a slack ass when it comes to them. Basically just language applications.

HillaryBriss 8y ago

> it was late to the party But Windows Mobile was on phones well before Google got ahold of Android and got the Google Play Store up and running: In Q1 2003, Windows Mobile was the third largest operating system in the smart handheld market, behind Symbian and Palm OS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mobile#Market_share https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mobile#Market_share The earliest version of the Google Play Store was made available in 2008. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play#History

JamesBarney 8y ago
Late to the party with a good smart phone. I used windows mobile and it didn't compare to Windows Phone or Android.