The New York times reports that big cellphone makers are shifting to Android. There are several reasons for this.
- Android is free, while Windows Mobile costs manufacturers $15 to $25 a phone.
- Android is intended for finger tapping, while WIndows Mobile is built for stylus use
- Developers get access to the Android source code
Windows Mobile market share is still way above Android, but the current trend indicates that the gap is getting smaller. Major US mobile operators offer Android phones, and an increasing number of manufacturers make Android devices. The main reason may not be license costs or access to open source:
“Windows Mobile is simply dated, and that hasn’t changed in this release,” said Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at Current Analysis.
Indeed, a J. D. Power & Associates survey found that Windows Mobile had the lowest satisfaction rating among customers of any smartphone operating system. The iPhone has by far the most satisfying software, the study found. Android is a distant second, followed closely by BlackBerry’s operating system.
It could just be that Windows Mobile phones do not offer the right user experience
(See New York Times, Big Cellphone Makers Shifting to Android System by Saul Hansell)
