Points to Ponder on Windows Phone

[rbharathkumar]

hi all,
Great to see the wonderful site catering to the Windows Phone Platform.
I have a couple of doubts. It would be great to some good and fruitful discussions happening on this.

1) Despite the blistering speed and extra ordinary functionality of the UI... I feel the Windows Phone could use some more touch ups. There are many people out there (unlike us ) buying phones just because they look pretty.

2) Do you feel the unfragmented (one for all) approach of the Windows platform is affecting its growth ?? In my opinion it does. You cannot create volumes unless the manufacturers are pushing for it and this can be done only if they can actually distinguish their phones from their competitors. And this kinda becomes a bit tough with this approach.

3) What new features would rather see on the Windows Mobile Platform ??

So what do you guys and gals think about these things ?? Points to ponder ?? Let me know your opinions !!!

[techblitz]

1) Maybe a couple of nips and tucks, but I think the Windows Phone foundation is pretty solid.
2) I've never though of it that way! I don't believe so, I think its lack of growth is due to Android's dominance as an easy to sell OS. It costs less than Windows Phone, and it's already been successful, where as Windows Phone needs a bigger advertising push to gain full consumer recognition. We'll see if the Lumia 900's ad campaign works.
3) There's a thread like this going on over at the Windows 8 forum, right here- Most awaited Windows Phone 8 feature?

[Ashley K.]

I think a lack of growth for the operating system can be attributed to the fact that there are very few developers willing to port their apps and Microsoft simply isn't offering enough incentive. Microsoft is going to have to court developers a lot harder in order to get the apps on the system so that more people will be satisfied when they do decide to adopt the Windows Phone ecosystem.

[techblitz]

I think a lack of growth for the operating system can be attributed to the fact that there are very few developers willing to port their apps and Microsoft simply isn't offering enough incentive. Microsoft is going to have to court developers a lot harder in order to get the apps on the system so that more people will be satisfied when they do decide to adopt the Windows Phone ecosystem.

I think quite the opposite- head of dev. relations Brandon Watson, who only recently left for Amazon, did a lot to win over devs, even by offering free phones, money and allowing the wounded of WebOS to develop for Windows Phone with free training and handsets. The problem is the big name apps are to lazy to support Windows Phone and the up and coming app devs. want to get popular in the quickest way, and sadly, Windows Phone isn't the golden ticket to popularity

[rbharathkumar]

1) Maybe a couple of nips and tucks, but I think the Windows Phone foundation is pretty solid.
2) I've never though of it that way! I don't believe so, I think its lack of growth is due to Android's dominance as an easy to sell OS. It costs less than Windows Phone, and it's already been successful, where as Windows Phone needs a bigger advertising push to gain full consumer recognition. We'll see if the Lumia 900's ad campaign works.
3) There's a thread like this going on over at the Windows 8 forum, right here-

I do agree with you...The platform does require the push...as you replied to Ashley's reply...Microsoft is doing a good job in promoting their OS but on a serious note..they need to do great if they are in any hope to achieve a considerable foothold on the Mobile OS platform.... It would be a sad moment if a great OS like this isn't getting the space it deserves....

My original point was...does Microsoft's strong insistence on their phones specs hinder its growth in any way ??
I mean besides the screen size and camera I am not able to find that killer feature that sets apart one windows phone from the other...I guess that is one of the main reasons that manufacturers are not pushing it as much as they push their android phones...despite the fact that it would be much cheaper for them to produce a Windows Phone and gain more profits...correct me if I am wrong..just some ideas on the top of my head....

[rbharathkumar]

I think a lack of growth for the operating system can be attributed to the fact that there are very few developers willing to port their apps and Microsoft simply isn't offering enough incentive. Microsoft is going to have to court developers a lot harder in order to get the apps on the system so that more people will be satisfied when they do decide to adopt the Windows Phone ecosystem.

hey ashley...never a truer word spoken....but apart from the developer's incentive will you attribute to the fact that the specs of the phones might be interfering with their development of apps ??

[Tom Mohammed]

I think the lack of customization definitely hinders growth. While I love Windows Phone the way it is, I understand why there is not really an incentive for the likes of Samsung and HTC to dive in and support the OS as the phones are essentially the same, and its very hard to do anything massively different to the competition.

[techblitz]

I do agree with you...The platform does require the push...as you replied to Ashley's reply...Microsoft is doing a good job in promoting their OS but on a serious note..they need to do great if they are in any hope to achieve a considerable foothold on the Mobile OS platform.... It would be a sad moment if a great OS like this isn't getting the space it deserves....

My original point was...does Microsoft's strong insistence on their phones specs hinder its growth in any way ??
I mean besides the screen size and camera I am not able to find that killer feature that sets apart one windows phone from the other...I guess that is one of the main reasons that manufacturers are not pushing it as much as they push their android phones...despite the fact that it would be much cheaper for them to produce a Windows Phone and gain more profits...correct me if I am wrong..just some ideas on the top of my head....

I don't doubt that WP7's middling specs dissuade some consumers, but that will change with Windows 8, because there will be more support for customization. Why HTC has to put Sense on everything is beyond me, but until more skinning is offered, HTC will probably keep making more Android phones. Good point!

[rbharathkumar]

I don't doubt that WP7's middling specs dissuade some consumers, but that will change with Windows 8, because there will be more support for customization. Why HTC has to put Sense on everything is beyond me, but until more skinning is offered, HTC will probably keep making more Android phones. Good point!

True...
I also had another point on mind.... I very strongly feel that the major selling point of the windows phones to business people is its ability to integrate with the exchange server better than any other platform...And I definitely feel that it is not being properly advertised....With a addition of proper encryption Windows Phone can easily grab the customer base of the Blackberry....Besides the platform is cool and beats it hands down in almost every count....
What do you all think....

[techblitz]

True...
I also had another point on mind.... I very strongly feel that the major selling point of the windows phones to business people is its ability to integrate with the exchange server better than any other platform...And I definitely feel that it is not being properly advertised....With a addition of proper encryption Windows Phone can easily grab the customer base of the Blackberry....Besides the platform is cool and beats it hands down in almost every count....
What do you all think....

I may be a little misguided here, but I thought the business side of Windows Phone is lacking. I think Microsoft needs to add security features and all those other business features before they try to tackle the business sector. Just my opinion

[rbharathkumar]

I may be a little misguided here, but I thought the business side of Windows Phone is lacking. I think Microsoft needs to add security features and all those other business features before they try to tackle the business sector. Just my opinion

yes you are right...their business features are lacking...but what I was trying to imply is that they have a great potential here...after the manufacturers of outlook, exchange server, office suite, communicators can certainly do well provided a little work is done...

[techblitz]

yes you are right...their business features are lacking...but what I was trying to imply is that they have a great potential here...after the manufacturers of outlook, exchange server, office suite, communicators can certainly do well provided a little work is done...

Agreed, if they could nail down a business update for Windows Phone and have a hardware update made specifically for keyboards, they could do some serious damage to Blackberry's business market.

[rbharathkumar]

Agreed, if they could nail down a business update for Windows Phone and have a hardware update made specifically for keyboards, they could do some serious damage to Blackberry's business market.

exactly my point....windows can blow any competition out of the air...if only they could do that little extra !!!

[techblitz]

exactly my point....windows can blow any competition out of the air...if only they could do that little extra !!!

I'm sure that Business update is coming soon, once Microsoft has made headway in the consumer market

[rbharathkumar]

I'm sure that Business update is coming soon, once Microsoft has made headway in the consumer market

but that is where the problem always occurs...they wait to make headway and then start the process....and sadly that is where they loose their edge...hopefully MS has learnt that by now...

[johnnyb]

Agreed, if they could nail down a business update for Windows Phone and have a hardware update made specifically for keyboards, they could do some serious damage to Blackberry's business market.

WP7 is really the only mobile OS I could see picking up what Blackberry leaves behind in the business area. That would be a great model for them, actually. Just get a couple options (Lumia and Focus?) and slap some high-quality keyboards onto them.

[techblitz]

WP7 is really the only mobile OS I could see picking up what Blackberry leaves behind in the business area. That would be a great model for them, actually. Just get a couple options (Lumia and Focus?) and slap some high-quality keyboards onto them.

Ooh, a Lumia with a keyboard. That's something I've never thought of before! I agree though, Windows Phone is most poised to pick up the title of business leader

[rbharathkumar]

I would rather that Microsoft not wait for designing a new one and make in roads into the business section...
rather they can make the keyboard of the Lumia 900 and titan and every other phones..
that would make for a really good start....BB did have their Torch series at a lousy 3.2 inch screen (Not sure)
so I guess 610 can also get it...also anyways 610 has the killer NFC feature already...i guess it can replace the BB way of scanning images...

[techblitz]

I would rather that Microsoft not wait for designing a new one and make in roads into the business section...
rather they can make the keyboard of the Lumia 900 and titan and every other phones..
that would make for a really good start....BB did have their Torch series at a lousy 3.2 inch screen (Not sure)
so I guess 610 can also get it...also anyways 610 has the killer NFC feature already...i guess it can replace the BB way of scanning images...

So you're saying take all the current designs and slap keyboards onto them? I don't know if that would work with all phones, but they could give it a shot. As for the 610, that's for emerging markets, so I'd doubt you would want to give that to professionals

[rbharathkumar]

So you're saying take all the current designs and slap keyboards onto them? I don't know if that would work with all phones, but they could give it a shot. As for the 610, that's for emerging markets, so I'd doubt you would want to give that to professionals

pretty much yes... but I have certain reasons for it

1) My point is Windows mobile is a really good platform and as we can agree has the potential to become a great business phone. Now to get that edge it is better to come up with a quick and stable update. Number one on the list would be to update the keyboards as they form the base of the communications. Now depending on the specs it might not be possibe to put on a keyboard on almost every phone. but all the feasible.... In the end of it all, the point is to make the phone attractive to business user. Got the features why not flaunt it....

2) I happen to come from one of BB's biggest foothold on the industry. To have a blackberry is a pride here. Almost everyone's first smartphone is a blackberry or a cheaper phone with BB's form factor. Now with BB reducing costs at a very rapid rate it is only fair that we have something to challenge them on their home turf...Low cost better specced and best features....I feel like Microsoft should definitely do this....Professionals from this very market will take decisions on the fly...cool over features....so yes....

3) The other reason I rooted for the 610 NFC is because of the ever increasing NFC functionality....It is one of those things that can get people away from the boring BBs. It is a cool feature and might be very useful as well....