Nokia truly is dominating the Windows Phone landscape and that has not changed with Windows Phone 8. Actually Nokia now holds stronger position than ever before. According to Canalyst there were 5.1 million Windows Phones sold in Q4 and Nokia has reported its official Windows Phone sales being 4.4 million in the same quarter. That means Nokia sold well over 85% of Windows Phones and other manufacturers were left with just 700 000 Windows Phone handsets.
Of course the reality is still that Windows Phone sales in general are well below Android and iOS, with Android holding 69% and Apple 22% market share in smartphones. Windows Phone is standing at just 2.4%.
This does also highlight the importance of getting solid ecosystem that involves all of the manufacturers. Something Elop has been saying since Nokia joined Windows Phone. Ideologically iOS and Windows Phone are very similar, but the core strength of Windows Phone comes from choice of hardware and multiple manufacturers putting down their effort.
BlackBerry, Microsoft and Nokia, as well as other Android vendors, have strategies and devices in place to attack, but the task is daunting to say the least. – Pete Cunningham, Principal Analyst
With Nokia dominating, the likes of HTC, Samsung are left on the sidelines and who could even blame somebody like HTC leaving Windows Phone. Though it would be a bit silly to go point at Nokia as they are the only member of this group that seems to be truly delivering. Can’t even say the same about Microsoft just now. Nokia needs to keep upping its game with Microsoft hopefully being able to give the tools they need.
