According to a new report, Windows Phone is predicted to own 12% of the smartphone market by 2017 and Microsoft’s mobile platform will be right behind Apple’s iOS platform. This prediction comes from analysts at Canalys. Windows Phone is currently at 2.4% (or 1.12% according to NetApplications).
According to Canalys, Microsoft will require help from more than just Nokia. In fact, Microsoft needs help from Chinese vendors such as Lenovo, Huawei, and ZTE, in order to allow Windows Phone to move from a 2.4% share in 2012 to a 12% share in 2017. This would pit Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform head to head against Apple’s iOS mobile platform.
“Nokia is the most active vendor in the Microsoft camp and it continues to make steady progress with its Lumia portfolio. But longer-term it is the Chinese vendors that are best placed to challenge Samsung’s market dominance. Microsoft already has a relationship with Huawei and ZTE in the phone space, and Lenovo is a major partner in the PC space. These partners will be needed to help deliver the scale that Microsoft needs,” Canalys analyst Jessica Kwee stated.
According to Canalys, Android will continue its lead as the top mobile platform with over 67% of the market, while Windows Phone and Apple battle it out for second and third place. “Apple’s growth will be curtailed by the fact that momentum in the smartphone market is coming from the low end, and Apple is absent from this segment. Android’s continued dominance is due to the scalability of the platform,” Kwee explained.
Further reading: Canalys, Microsoft, Windows Phone
