2012 may mark Microsoft's last major CES keynote and presence, but with two successful Windows Phone announcements, it's going out with a bang.
CNET named both the HTC Titan II and the Nokia Lumia 900 finalists for the Best of CES award in the smartphone category, both supporting 4G LTE. Out of four total candidates, the Lumia 900 took the prize.
Much has changed in a year. Last CES, the newly minted Windows Phone operating system had just launched, completely overhauling the convoluted, bloated Windows Mobile operating system that proved incapable of surviving in a post-iPhone world.
Simply put, the Nokia Lumia 900 may be the single best phone Nokia has produced in years. It features a beautiful 4.3-inch AMOLED Clear Black display that makes Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system pop. For specs, it has a single-core 1.4-GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera with an LED flash and a front-facing camera for video conferencing. While it’s disappointing that the processor is only single-core, Windows Phone’s lightweight OS makes it very responsive.
Although the community of mobile press journalists widely appreciated Windows Phone's simple, straightforward interface and unique design, the first wave of hardware mostly underwhelmed.
The release of the Windows Phone Mango 7.5 OS update fixed several (but not all) software issues. The hardware is improving, too, with front-facing cameras and newfound support for 4G LTE. Even the app marketplace is up to 50,000 titles.
With all eyes on Nokia's re-entry into the US market in a major way, the reception of the high-end Lumia 900 phone has become an important augur for Windows Phone's success as a whole. For example, the Lumia 900 has been called a hail Mary, a key piece in the transition from uncertainty to triumph. The Lumia 900 and other phones like it could push as many as 37 million Nokia devices out the door.
There's little doubt that Microsoft just won a battle at CES, but much must be done if Windows Phone is to make a lasting impact--and Microsoft knows it. Microsoft's strategy going forward will require extreme focus.
In addition to helping OEM partners manufacture new phones, Microsoft has a list of problem areas it's got to tackle. Multiplying language support, expanding and improving its cloud services, and steadily stocking its app store with high-quality programs are among them.
There's also the tricky business of selling the devices. AT&T continues to be Microsoft's staunchest US supporter, offering the highest number of Windows phones. It's no accident that both the Titan II and Lumia 900 champion AT&T's 4G LTE network.
T-Mobile isn't too far behind, but Sprint and Verizon have one Windows Phone apiece. Microsoft and its manufacturer partners will have to pierce those membranes to get a lock on the market.
So far, Verizon has only offered one handset running Windows Phone software.
Last week a report surfaced that AT&T's sales associates will earn commission for selling Windows phones, a statement that was not necessarily true in the US based on AT&T's commission structure.
For the time being, Microsoft's short-term sales tactics and long-term strategy fine-tuning can wait. This week it's all about celebrating the positive reception to its two handsets, and the knowledge that although Microsoft will no longer swallow up a large swatch of the Central Hall at CES.
Windows phone from Nokia is its best in years. By replacing its own OS with the Windows Phone OS, the Nokia Lumia 900 has vastly improved feel.
The Lumia 900, if you’ve been paying attention, is like the big brother to the previously announced Lumia 800. The 900 has a larger screen than the 800′s 3.7-inch display, and adds a front-facing camera. It also blows away the less-expensive budget model, the Lumia 710, which has only a 5-megapixel camera. Flicks between screens are fast, fluid and responsive.
While the phone has no official price or release date, a Nokia representative said the device would be out in the “spring” on AT&T exclusively.
No comments:
Post a Comment