Microsoft's mobile OS will own more than 10 percent of the global smartphone market in another four years, says IDC. September 4, 2013 6:03 AM PDT (Credit: Microsoft) Windows Phone will still lag far behind iOS and Android in the coming years but will secure its spot as the third largest mobile platform, according to research firm IDC. Microsoft is projected to score 3.9 percent of the worldwide smartphone market this year, IDC said Wednesday in its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. That number is forecast to shoot up to 10.2 percent by 2017. But Microsoft does face challenges, especially in light of its buyout of Nokia's device and services division. "With the acquisition of Nokia's device and services unit, Microsoft will increasingly need to drive share gains by itself as OEM support for Windows Phone is expected to wane now that the company is set to become a full-fledged hardware maker," IDC said in its report. "Microsoft will also need to ship more low-cost smartphones to high-growth emerging markets if it is to continue building on its recent nominal share increases." Microsoft's crystal ball sees a 15 percent share of the smartphone market by 2018. Over the same time, BlackBerry's cut of the market is expected to trickle down. IDC pegs a 2.7 percent share this year and 1.7 percent in 2017, blaming the drop on "tepid BlackBerry 10 reception and emboldened competition that are expected to whittle away share in its remaining regional bastions of strength, such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East."
Microsoft's mobile OS will own more than 10 percent of the global smartphone market in another four years, says IDC.
(Credit: Microsoft)
Windows Phone will still lag far behind iOS and Android in the coming years but will secure its spot as the third largest mobile platform, according to research firm IDC.
Microsoft is projected to score 3.9 percent of the worldwide smartphone market this year, IDC said Wednesday in its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. That number is forecast to shoot up to 10.2 percent by 2017. But Microsoft does face challenges, especially in light of its buyout of Nokia's device and services division.
"With the acquisition of Nokia's device and services unit, Microsoft will increasingly need to drive share gains by itself as OEM support for Windows Phone is expected to wane now that the company is set to become a full-fledged hardware maker," IDC said in its report. "Microsoft will also need to ship more low-cost smartphones to high-growth emerging markets if it is to continue building on its recent nominal share increases."
Microsoft's crystal ball sees a 15 percent share of the smartphone market by 2018.
Over the same time, BlackBerry's cut of the market is expected to trickle down. IDC pegs a 2.7 percent share this year and 1.7 percent in 2017, blaming the drop on "tepid BlackBerry 10 reception and emboldened competition that are expected to whittle away share in its remaining regional bastions of strength, such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East."
