Windows phones started out as a promising alternative to Android and iOS five years ago.
Microsoft positioned its Windows 7 line of devices as the true third mobile ecosystem but it 's time to admit that it failed. The final nail in the coffin of these devices was hammered today. Microsoft sold only 4.5 million Lumia devices in the last quarter as opposed to the 10.5 million it had sold in the same period last year. That's a 57% drop! But even a 57% increase wouldn't be enough to save the state the devices are in right now!
Microsoft and Nokia sold a combined 110 million phones compared to 4.5 billion iOS and Android phones sold during the same period. IDC recently reported that a total of 400 million were sold last quarter, meaning only 1.1% were Windows.
Microsoft doesn't have any compelling Lumia devices, and the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL were both disappointing with unfinished Windows 10 software.
With Lumia sales in decline and Microsoft's plan to no longer produce large quantities of devices, it's clear that we are witnessing the end of Windows phones. Rumors say that the company is developing a Surface phone but it needs to get it to market first. The company's devices have been in decline for a long time and the situation is only getting worse. With a lack of hardware, a lack of sales and only 2% of the market share, we are talking about the end of an era. We are waiting to see how Microsoft will handle it!
