Sony Ericsson is joining HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, and Acer in developing Android phones. Of those, most are still releasing Windows Mobile phones as well (save for Moto) but HTC has already stated they will be focusing most of their efforts on Android.
Two minor nits to pick.
First, Motorola is releasing Windows Mobile devices -- just out of their rugged division.
Second, I thought HTC said they would be putting more effort into Android, not most of their effort. The story I recall said that HTC might have up to 50% of their handsets running Android, which still leaves 50% running Windows Mobile.
Steve
Zealot
· 1 month ago
HTC says that "over 50 percent" of their releases in 2010 will be Android, as opposed to 30 percent in 2009. No reason not to expect that to be 80 percent Android in 2011.
Either way, it is part of an overall shift in the industry to Android and away from WinMo and possibly Symbian.
Pony99CA
· 1 month ago
I think whether it's an industry-wide shift remains to be seen. Sure, troubled vendors like Motorola, Palm and maybe Sony Ericsson are moving to Android, but how about Samsung, LG and so on?
Adding Android phones to your mix is different than "moving away" from Windows Mobile. For example, if HTC projected only 10% of their phones would be Android phones, Windows Mobile would fall from 100% (or whatever) to 90%, but I wouldn't call that a major shift. Even going to 50% Android phones (or slightly more) still means they're making a lot of Windows Mobile phones.
Furthermore, we haven't heard whether that percentage is just marketshare, which is a zero-sum game, or an actual reduction in the number Windows Mobile devices made. If HTC was making 15 million WM devices before and no Android devices, and in 2010 makes 20 million WM devices and 21 million Android devices, both devices have made gains even though Windows Mobile's marketshare in HTC "slipped" to under 50%.
Whenever somebody talks marketshare, you need to look at actual numbers, too.
All Comments
Two minor nits to pick.
First, Motorola is releasing Windows Mobile devices -- just out of their rugged division.
Second, I thought HTC said they would be putting more effort into Android, not most of their effort. The story I recall said that HTC might have up to 50% of their handsets running Android, which still leaves 50% running Windows Mobile.
Steve
Either way, it is part of an overall shift in the industry to Android and away from WinMo and possibly Symbian.
Adding Android phones to your mix is different than "moving away" from Windows Mobile. For example, if HTC projected only 10% of their phones would be Android phones, Windows Mobile would fall from 100% (or whatever) to 90%, but I wouldn't call that a major shift. Even going to 50% Android phones (or slightly more) still means they're making a lot of Windows Mobile phones.
Furthermore, we haven't heard whether that percentage is just marketshare, which is a zero-sum game, or an actual reduction in the number Windows Mobile devices made. If HTC was making 15 million WM devices before and no Android devices, and in 2010 makes 20 million WM devices and 21 million Android devices, both devices have made gains even though Windows Mobile's marketshare in HTC "slipped" to under 50%.
Whenever somebody talks marketshare, you need to look at actual numbers, too.
Steve