“Microsoft Corp.’s $7.2 billion pairing with Nokia Oyj’s handset business is failing to win over the software developers who are crucial to its success,” Adam Satariano and Douglas MacMillan report for Bloomberg.
“Consider Tommy Palm and Jeff Smith,” Satariano and MacMillan report. “Palm, who oversees development at smartphone-game maker King.com, and Smith, who runs music-application maker Smule Inc., have long avoided building apps for devices using Microsoft’s Windows Phone software. Closer ties with Nokia haven’t swayed them. Both say even after the acquisition closes, Microsoft still won’t have enough users to make it worth the time and money.”
Satariano and MacMillan report, “While Microsoft has struggled to lure developers since Windows Phone debuted in 2010, the plight has taken on new urgency since Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the acquisition of Nokia’s handset unit last month. Microsoft, which had close ties with Nokia through a 2011 partnership, is counting on the deal to boost its share of the $280 billion smartphone market and to lure makers of games, productivity tools and other apps, who view the company’s mobile software as an afterthought compared with Apple Inc.’s iOS…”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Don’t feel too badly, beleaguered Microkia, all mobile operating systems are afterthoughts compared with Apple’s iOS.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “kevin p.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
The difference between iOS and Android developers – August 14, 2013
Game developers still not sold on Android; ports to Google’s OS remain an afterthought – April 4, 2013
iOS apps are better than their Android counterparts – January 30, 2013
Security researcher labels nearly 300,000 Google Play Android apps as ‘high-risk’ – November 1, 2012
Here’s why iOS Apps look better than Android apps – April 30, 2012
Starbucks exec: Android apps often ‘watered down’ – May 16, 2011
Don’t worry, a new CEO is waiting in the wings to emerge into the Redmond penthouse office in a blaze of light with commanding authority of DOSman ready to resurrect Microsoft.
Yes. You heard it, Bill Gates has to play the last act. Win or lose he is the last man standing.
I like their strategy, I like it a lot
Windows 8 is a “burning platform” eh Stephen?
I am surprised that the shareholders haven’t file a class action lawsuit against Elop for breach of fiduciary responsibility. He did everything necessary to bring the price of Nokia down to where MS could just buy them. (and he could return triumphantly to MicroSoft)
Anyone who doesn’t believe that was -always- his end game has serious blinders on
Somewhere in Denmark there is a board room full of executives looking at a map of Washington thinking “Suckers!”.
Why Denmark?
Finland, Denmark, whatever. It’s all the same. 😉
Finland and Denmark are not at all the same. Language, culture, etc.- very different.
I’m going to presume that the ‘wink’ sign means nothing in your culture. 😉
I think “former” Nokia was located at Finland….
Finland is correct. My bad. The only Nokia engineer I ever met happened to be from Denmark. But I hope the point is not missed. I am just happy M$ did not get their paws on Qt in the buyout.
With so many failed attempts to be a meaningful player in the mobile space – Kin, and Nokia, MSFT should just stick to what it do the best – Windows Servers and Office.
no matter how much money you spend, as long as there is no vision and plan the project will fail, it a shame that Ballmer is in retirement now, he got liberated and is free from going to office and dealing with it. I bet Balmer is cranky at home, shouting at his wife 😀
Up the sphincter.
Thanks SO much for your insightful thinking on this matter. You’ve really enriched all our lives.
Sorry – to be specific – that was for the wonderful x.
What I don’t understand is why they are even trying? They know they can’t win. 😉
What I don’t understand is how buying Nokia is going to suddenly improve the situation and increase Windows Phone market share.
Even in the long term, Windows Phone market share will not improve unless unless Microsoft can convince (other) phone makers to adopt Windows Phone (and abandon Android). That’s less likely to happen, if Microsoft owns its own phone maker.
You are so right. See how much Motorola has done for GOOG. Alt GOOG does is spend money on lawsuits and write off Moto losses.
I find it really amusing that even for the key apps that do exist (Facebook, Pandora, instagram), Microsoft has had to write them.
I think you can safely assume that >50% of windows phone users would use Facebook. If it doesn’t make economic sense for Facebook to develop for the platform, how the heck would it ever work for a small developer that would have a small percentage of users interested in their app?
No worries Windows Phone lovers, you should still have a good selection of fart apps to pick from. The gassiest one being the BallmerBlast app.
Paul Thurrott better go and find another job, alongside Steve Balmer of course.
I talked to a lady the other day and she had a Wimdows Phone. It was actually quite nice. The tiled start screen was actually nice and it looked very intuitive. Especially for new users. Just click on what you want on a tile.
Give Microsoft all the flack you want but I think the tile interface was a real innovation. A leap into the future. A brave move I would say. Hopefully it pays off. Kind of a Star Trek feel too it. They have lots of tiles that represent Icons/Actions. I am a HUGE Apple fan but I really wish Microsoft and Blackberry success. I think we need it. For competition, innovation and to battle Goosung.