Windows Phone ad network firm AdDuplex has just come out with it latest statistics report for February 2015, and it reveals some interesting tidbits on the condition of the Windows Phone platform as well as what may be to come in the near future.
Starting with a look at the popularity of the all the Windows Phone versions, Windows Phone 8.1 holds the majority of the market with almost 70%. Interestingly, Windows 10 for phones just entered the fold at 0.2% share, but we expect this number to increase drastically as more devices become supported over the coming weeks and months.
As for the top Windows Phone 8 manufacturers, surprise, surprise, Microsoft leads the pack and dominates holding 96% of the market, with other 4% spread out among HTC, Samsung, Huawei, and others.
Nokia-branded Lumia devices take the largest piece of the pie but for the first time, the Microsoft-branded Lumia 535 enters the list of the top 10 Windows Phone devices. The wallet-friendly Lumia 520 still leads as the most popular Windows Phone device released. The Lumia 520 takes top spot in Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain, and India.
Those were the numbers on a global scale, but the story changes a little when looking at the United States alone. AT&T and Cricket Wireless have been taking turns at the top seat for the past 5 months, and this month, AT&T takes the lead with just over 30% share of all US network operators with Cricket in second, T-Mobile in third, Verizon in fourth followed by MetroPCS and Family Mobile.
Despite AT&T’s lead, it’s T-Mobile’s Lumia 521 that serves as the most popular Windows Phone device in the States, and the top 10 is now all Lumia now that the 1520 has kicked the HTC 8X out of 10th place.
Now to really interesting part. Five unreleased Lumia devices have been spotted (not including their potential variants) and could be candidates for release in the near future, possibly in time for Mobile World Congress 2015. These devices include the Lumia RM-1031 and RM 1099, both with a 4” 480p display, the former may turn out to be a Nokia XL running Windows Phone. Then there’s the RM-1062 with a 5.7” 720p display that is likely to be the heavily rumored Lumia 1330. The RM-1072 and RM-1113 follow, both with a 5” 720p display.
Unfortunately no new devices have been spotted from other OEMs such as Samsung, LG, or HTC, rumored to be preparing a Windows Phone version of its upcoming HTC One M9 flagship. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that new devices don’t exist, it just makes it less likely to be the case as field testing would typically involve installing apps, many of which use AdDuplex as an in-app ad provider. We’ll know for sure soon enough as Mobile World Congress approaches early next month.
What are your thoughts on the statistics? Let us know your opinion on the state of the Windows Phone platform and the devices you expect to see at MWC 2015 in the comments below.
