Market research firm Gartner has in a latest research predicted that Microsofts upcoming Windows Phone 7 OS would only marginally increase the market share of Microsoft in the smartphones segment.
The OS, which has to be Microsoft’s most anticipated launch for the smartphones segment since quite some time is expected to be announced on October 11. After the launch, Gartner predicts that it only sees Microsoft’ market share jumping from 4.7% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011. However, this growth would last only for a few months and by 2014, Windows Phone 7 would only hold a meagre 3.9 percent market share.
In comparison, Android is expected to grab a phenomenal 29.6 percent market share by 2014. Symbian would continue to lead the smartphone OS sector even then – but with only a slight lead over Android.
It was just recently that Android became the most popular mobile OS in the U.S., according to data released Tuesday by Nielsen. It had a 32% market share in the US against Apple’s who’s iOS is left at second place with 25% share.
It hasn’t been exactly a good year for Microsoft’s phones team especially after they pulled the plug on its Kin range of devices barely months after its release.
The Gartner report not withstanding, Microsoft is hoping for a quick turnaround on the lines of Google’s Android who has managed to become a force to reckon with in the smartphone world in a span of just two years.
[Via InformationWeek]
