http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/ Engadget Mobile Comments for Steve Ballmer predicts $100 smartphones in 1-2 years http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/
Whilst their current smartphones appeal to enterprise and techno-junkies, I think they will have a hard time selling their devices to the average consumer.

The main problem, as I see it, is that most of their devices are designed and built by HTC. HTC have zero brand recognition and most consumers will stick to brands they know. With the success of the RAZR, it's obvious that industrial design is a top priority for consumers, but this is also HTC's biggest weakness. The build quality of their devices is also questionable. The SMT5600 was notorious for its problems and apparently the newer Cingular 2125 is also seeing similar issues. To put it simply, HTC are unlikely to ever hit mass market.

So that leaves Microsoft looking at other manufacturers to provide them with that leap into the mainstream. Motorola have proven to have a very poor track record when it comes to Windows smartphones and are increasingly throwing their weight behind Linux. Samsung are producing a few Windows smartphones, but again, are exploring other smartphone platforms and could jump ship. And then we have Nokia and Sony Ericsson exclusively releasing Symbian handsets. None of the big manufacturers are really getting behind Microsoft at this point.

So, I don't see where the volume sales are going to come from.

I'm sure Microsoft will play their usual game - plug away, invest huge sums of money, slowly improve their product and wait for the opposition to slip up. It's a strategy that's worked for them many times in the past.]]>Feb 15th 2006 7:32AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/
Affordable mobile learning, that's certainly something to chew on.]]>Feb 15th 2006 7:48AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/
2. that really doesn't matter because,

3. M$ have enough money to pay manufacturers to MAKE phones with their OS and GIVE them to the carriers which would pretty much sink SYMBIAN and LINUX]]>Feb 15th 2006 9:35AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/Feb 15th 2006 9:45AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/Feb 15th 2006 9:54AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/
I think only price has kept them out of the average joe's hands.]]>Feb 15th 2006 9:59AMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/Feb 15th 2006 12:17PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/
Is it possible that the reason nobody carries a Windows smartphone isn't because they're expensive, but because nobody wants to carry a heavily branded, awkward micro-Windows PC in their pocket?

Does anyone really like the Windows interface? Is it really the best fit for a mobile device?


]]>Feb 15th 2006 1:28PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/Feb 15th 2006 1:55PMhttp://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/02/15/steve-ballmer-predicts-100-smartphones-in-1-2-years/Jul 7th 2006 9:47AM