Perceptions & observations on Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 for Tabs & Desktops. Chances of Windows phone 8 being a success, battling out with Android and iPhone 

Microsoft is geared up to compete within the mobile platform market as it recently announced: Windows Phone 8 (Apollo). By this new launch of Windows Phone 8, can it catch up with the existing big players in the Smartphone market such as Android, iOS, Blackberry & Symbian?

Microsoft, until now left on the mobile computing sidelines, will aggressively market the new Windows Phone 8.  Capitalizing on its new unique “Metro” feature, new types of applications and fragmentations stinging Android, iOS & others will be critical.

With the launch of Windows Phone 8, Microsoft has modified a lot and improved the things that were lacking with their previous Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS, which could attract existing & potential customers in the market.

Microsoft Statistics says that “Consumer Preview build of Windows 8 has been downloaded one million times within the first day of availability. Although still in its beta form, Windows 8 has attracted attention and sparked imaginations in a very big way, so it’s little surprise to see the download counter crossing into seven figures so quickly. ”

Windows Phone 8 has tons of features & Strategies but can it compete with Android and iOS?

• Windows Phone 8 builds up on the comfortable "Metro" Live Tiles, which are squares viewed on the home screen that symbolize different apps, such as a Music Videos, Messaging, Pictures & Interactive etc.
• Windows Phone 8 astonishingly trenches Microsoft's proprietary Bing Maps. Now, it brings the Nokia mapping system, contributing 3D street navigation, and Nokia's Navteq Traffic Service
• Microsoft & Nokia Partnership: The company’s AppCampus program at Aalto University has been established to foster the creation of innovative mobile applications for both the Windows Phone ecosystem and Nokia platforms

Gartner’s Prediction:

Gartner followed up with their press release making a similar prediction: Windows Phone would claim about a fifth of the smartphone market by the end of 2015. Here’s their breakdown:

• Almost 6% in 2011, 11% in 2012, 20% by 2015
• Gartner predicts that Nokia would boost Windows Phone well into the mid-tier of its portfolio by the end of 2012.
• Driving the platform to be the third largest in the worldwide ranking by 2013.

Microsoft faces tough competition with the pending release of Apple's iPhone 5 and the latest Android version (Android Jelly Bean or Android ICS).

The jury is still out about whether Windows Phone 8 will get a chance to spring up on top of the Smartphone market share.  We will stay tuned.

Source:  PC Magazine