Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)’s Windows Phone: The $159 Game Changer In The UK

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Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s mobile operating system was a failure at start and was lagging seriously compared to iOS and Android. However, Forbes depicted a recent doubling in demand for Windows Phone handsets in UK, while other regions over the Atlantic have registered more modest increases in sales of Lumia 520. The 620 and 720 also have nice figures, but their predecessor has a very attractive advantage of being priced at £99 or approximately $159 without any contract with carriers. The model comes free on the basis of a contract with telephonic services providers at just £7 or $11.2 per month for a 24 month agreement. We might see the phone get higher in the list of the most popular phones currently available on the market.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has another advantage over Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) in the same context. It did so well with Windows Phone that the operating system outperformed Android in terms of requirements. As a result, although the devices are less capable than the phones produced under the guidance of the Mountain View, California-based tech giant, they do not glitch or lag behind. The drawback with having a Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) handheld is in the fact that there’re very few Apps developed for the operating system on the devices. However, it turns out that consumers that are more price sensitive with respect to their phones care little beyond the need of being on a social platform. Consequently, the numerous Apps from Apple Store or Google Play are not missed that much.

There’s another demographic factor that could give some boost to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s revenues in UK. As of 2013, there are more than 93% of teens that have a smartphone and among the rest, about 81% plan to get one such device and the number might reach 96% in 2017. To draw a comparison, in US there are 50.9% of teenagers with smartphones. The big difference comes from the fact that across the ocean phones come free of charge if a contract of approximately $16 or £10 is signed. Many opt for some minutes, a free phone, and up to 500 MB of internet traffic at some monthly expenses.

It’s not sure if the low margins will allow Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) maintain an independent development team in the field, but it’s at least some good news.

 

The ‘father of Android’ leaves Google for new technology hardware startups

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Andy Rubin, co-founder and ‘father’ of Android, has left Google to set up a startup incubator for technology hardware.

Rubin sold his Android company to Google in 2005, heading up its development until March 2013 when he moved to take the lead in Google’s “moonshot” robotics projects.

“I want to wish Andy all the best with what’s next,” Google chief executive Larry Page said in a statement. “With Android he created something truly remarkable – with a billion-plus happy users. Thank you.”

Professor James Kuffner, a researcher at Google and Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute, will replace Rubin in charge of Google’s robotics effort, which included a series of acquisitions of robotics companies including Boston Dynamics by Google in 2013. He spent five years working on Google’s self-driving car project and more than seven years at Carnegie Mellon.

Rubin’s new startup incubator will concentrate on new companies developing new technology hardware, rather than internet services.

Rubin left Apple in 1992 and went on to set up Danger, maker of the SideKick-branded smartphones later acquired by Microsoft, and Android in 2003. Google co-founders Page and Sergey Brin bought Android in 2005 without telling Eric Schmidt, then the chief executive of the search giant.

At Google as head of Android, Rubin was known for insulating the Android team from the rest of Google maintaining it like a separate company inside the search giant. The Android group had its own lunchroom within the Google campus, for instance.

His entrepreneurial spirit and love of robotics led him away from Android, and now to his new incubator, where he will help grow new technologies from a hardware perspective.

 

Samsung, Apple Lose Ground to China Smartphone Makers

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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s market share rose in the third quarter, while market leaders Samsung and Apple lost ground. BLOOMBERG NEWS

The erosion of Samsung Electronics Co.’s and Apple Inc. ’s dominance of the global smartphone market accelerated during the third quarter, as Chinese makers of low-cost phones continued to undercut the industry leaders, according to data from three market-share trackers released Thursday.

Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone maker by shipments, saw its market share fall to 24.7% from 35% during the three months ended Sept. 30, its steepest decline since it became the industry leader in the third quarter of 2011, according to data provider Strategy Analytics. Upstart Chinese phone maker Xiaomi Inc. rose to third place with a 5.6% share, up from 2.1%, as its global handset shipments more than tripled.

Apple remained No. 2, with a 12.3% share, but its market share fell from 13.4% as supply problems held back the shipment of its latest-model iPhones, which went on sale in mid-September.

Market-share data released by IDC and Counterpoint Research Thursday showed similar results.

The latest data came after Samsung posted Thursday a sharply lower third-quarter net profit as intensified competition from Chinese smartphone makers hurt the South Korean technology giant’s mobile business.

Linda Sui of Strategy Analytics estimated that Xiaomi was the fourth-most profitable handset maker in the third quarter, trailing Apple, Samsung and LG Electronics Inc. Xiaomi’s preference for low-cost online distribution channels instead of bricks-and-mortar shops helped its profitability, she said.

Xiaomi, which means “Little Rice” in Chinese, is known for its marketing savvy. The Beijing-based smartphone maker, founded in 2010, has been growing quickly across Asia by selling low-cost handsets that don’t skimp on features, and has created a cultlike fan base among early adopters of new gadgets.

The company has also used social media in growing its popularity. Chairman Lei Jun, who has often been compared with Apple’s late founder Steve Jobs for his presentation style at product launches, has more than 11 million followers on China’s Twitter -like platform, Sina Weibo .

Looking to expand its business overseas, Xiaomi last year hired Hugo Barra, who was an executive at Google ’s Android business. The company has expanded into Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India.

During the second quarter, Xiaomi overtook Samsung as the top smartphone maker in China, the world’s largest smartphone market by shipments, according to market research firm Canalys.

Xiaomi has been expanding into other markets outside China, including Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia and has been borrowing money to fund the expansion.

But industry observers say that despite Xiaomi’s popularity on its home turf, it will face challenges getting consumers familiar with its brand overseas, where it remains relatively unknown.

Lenovo Group Ltd. and Huawei Technologies Co., meanwhile, have been expanding aggressively outside China. Lenovo’s smartphone sales have been growing fast in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, while Huawei has been increasing its presence in the Middle East and Africa as well as Latin America. In emerging markets, both Huawei and Lenovo are challenging Samsung’s dominance by selling inexpensive models with competitive technological features.

IDC said Samsung’s third-quarter market share dropped 8.7 percentage points to 23.8% as its shipments fell 8.2% from a year earlier. Apple’s market share fell to 12% from 12.9%, while Xiaomi came in third with a market share of 5.3%, up from 2.1% a year earlier. Lenovo ranked fourth with a market share of 5.2%, up from 4.7%, followed by LG’s 5.1%.

Lenovo’s market share is expected to rise after it completes the acquisition of U.S. handset maker Motorola Mobility later this year.

Counterpoint analyst Neil Shah said Samsung has been losing market share at every price point: in the premium segment to Apple; in the middle tier to Xiaomi, and Huawei; and in the bottom tier to Lenovo and a number of local brands such as Micromax in India and Mito in Indonesia.

Desk Tour iPods, iPhones and Accessories

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