According to a new report from Gartner, Microsoft’s Windows operating system is projected to decline 4.3% in market share in 2013 due to declining sales of traditional PCs. However, Gartner sees an increase in market share for next year as PC shipments increase. As for Windows Phone, Gartner believes Microsoft needs to turn the platform into a “cool smartphone brand.”
“Android will remain the leading device operating system (OS), as it is on pace to account for 38 percent of shipments in 2013. The Windows OS is projected to decline 4.3 percent in 2013 as a result of the decline in traditional PC sales, but will return to growth in 2014 with device OS shipments increasing 9.7 percent,” Gartner stated in a report.
Gartner believes that worldwide shipments of traditional PCs, which includes desktop and notebooks, will total 303 million units at the end of the year. This will be a 11.2% decline compared to the year 2012. The PC market, including ultramobiles, is forecasted to take a 8.4% hit during this year.
Gartner also believes that 90% of large enterprises have already switched to Windows 7 or Windows 8, therefore the end of life of Windows XP wont impact device sales in 2014. Windows Phone, however, is a whole another story. Gartner believes that the Windows Phone platform still needs work and needs to work on its coolness factor.
“Windows Phone challenges in the smartphone market remain the same, with the need to bring on board more developers and enrich the ecosystem, as well as turning the Windows Phone brand into a cool smartphone brand. While there are clear benefits to the acquisition [of Nokia], such as channel strength, carrier relationship and emerging-market knowledge, the brand and ecosystem do not directly benefit from it,” Gartner explained.
Gartner believes that small tablets will be the focus on this holiday season, which continues the trend from last year. Smartphones will lose their appeal during this holiday season as well, according to Gartner.
