Windows Phone sales take off

156% Growth from Q3 2012 to Q3 2013

If you own one of the new generation of Windows Phone, you won’t be surprised at the news.  IDC report that Windows Phone shipments have year on year growth of 156%.  Shipments have surged from 3.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 to 9.5 million in the third quarter of 2013.  At last, the business world is recognizing what some already know – Windows Phone is the perfect choice for business.

It is likely that many businesses will look to Windows when replacing their old handsets.  Windows phones have three key advantages: Office products as standard, attractive price points (important when buying in volume) and well-engineered handsets.  No wonder market share is now steadily rising.  It’s true that Android still have 80% of the market, but it’s also true that much of this growth has been fuelled by consumers.  Businesses have different needs – they need to be able to create line of business applications for mobiles, they need to be able to access their in-house databases, and they need good security.  Angry Birds just doesn’t figure on their wish-list.

Considering how many companies have Windows applications running on their desktops, extending that to out and about working makes absolute sense. Plus Microsoft's is strong in the cloud with Azure.

Post-Steve Jobs, Apple isn’t the powerhouse it once was.  And now that mobile is less innovative and more business-as-usual, Microsoft’s strategy is starting to look a lot more intelligent. 

IDC’s full press release is here: http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24442013