Windows Phone

Nokia pre-empts iPhone 5 with new Lumias rocking Windows Phone 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2017

Software giant Microsoft and former cell phone champion Nokia held a press conference earlier today in a very wet New York City. Nokia is attempting to re-boot its ailing smartphone biz with some sleek new Lumia handsets, with a little help from its pal Microsoft and its new Windows Phone 8 operating system. It pays to keep tabs on what competition is doing and it's always exciting watching good ol' Windows maker playing a catch up in mobile.

With that in mind, the presser was basically a pre-emptive tease against the massive iPhone 5 launch due next Wednesday. Interestingly, Nokia hasn't shied away from criticizing Samsung for failing to deliver a working Windows Phone 8 phone. Conspicuously enough, Nokia itself did not announce price points or shipping dates for the new Lumias.

Perhaps it would have been better to hold this event a month from now? Be that as it may, Microsoft will hopefully play its cards right and over time establish Windows Phone as a third viable platform. I'm all for it: some balance to the force is needed as it's been disrupted lately by Android's relentless march. Here's what's new from the Microkia camp...

Nokia and Microsoft schedule September 5 event to talk Windows Phone 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2017

We've known for awhile that Nokia and Microsoft were planning to counter Apple's iPhone 5 launch with an event of their own. It's official now as Microsoft issued media invitations for a Windows Phone-focused presser in New York City on September 5, just a week before Apple is expected to take the wraps off its next iPhone. Talk about preempting what analyst Gene Munster likes to paint as "the biggest consumer electronics launch in history".

With Nokia close to being on life support and Microsoft's market share in mobile still eroding, there better be some darn exciting announcements if smartphone buyers are to consider upcoming Windows Phone 8-powered Lumia phones this holiday season...

Nokia’s inaugural Windows Phone 8 has some familiar design

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

One of the most common complaints I keep hearing about the yet-unreleased next iPhone is a sense of dissapointment over its overly unchanged appearance, even if from the design standpoint the iPhone 5 is much more than a rehash of the existing iPhone 4/4S design.

Is you know, Apple's upcoming device is said to sport a two-tone metal backplate (58 percent like it), a taller four-inch screen with new display technology, a relocated headphone jack and a much smaller dock connector with MagSafe-like functionality at the bottom.

But it ain't just Apple. Nokia, once a leader in cell phones and now an also-ran, figured its inaugural Windows Phone 8 handset shouldn't change the design formula established with the sleek Windows Phone 7.5-powered Lumia 710. Heck, if the above leaked photo is the real deal, Nokia may not be willing to change the overall Lumia design much with the new handset...

Nokia, Samsung countering iPhone 5 with ‘iconic’ Windows Phone 8 devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 6, 2012

The next iPhone is upon us (think September 21-ish) and Apple's rivals are scrambling to conveniently time their upcoming 'hero' device announcements around the same timeframe. That's brave tactics, trying to divert spotlight away from the mother of all upgrades, as analyst Gene Munster dubbed the iPhone 5 release.

Both Samsung and Nokia are set to unveil new high-end devices built around Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 software. One of the devices is being described in court documents as an "iconic smartphone". All phones should be on store shelves in time for the holiday shopping frenzy. Should Apple be worried?

The realities of the smartphone biz today

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Different stats and market research all point to the same conclusion: that the mobile market is being reduced to a two-horse race between iOS and Android (or Apple and Samsung, specifically) as once great incumbents such as RIM and Nokia get pushed aside, their market shares seriously declining.

In fact, it's fairly safe to say that on the fifth anniversary of iPhone, both RIM and Nokia are fighting for survival, quite possibly their lifecycle coming to an end. Meanwhile, only four companies are turning profit in the increasingly crowded smartphone space...

Microsoft introduces Windows Phone 8

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As expected, Microsoft has just taken the wraps off of Windows Phone 8 — the latest iteration of its mobile operating system — during a nightclub-themed media event in California.

Similar to Apple's WWDC keynote, Microsoft took this opportunity to go over a handful of new features in the software. And so far, it looks fairly solid. Should Apple be nervous?

Microsoft to make major Windows Phone announcement tomorrow

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 9, 2018

Apparently Microsoft isn't ready to give up the spotlight this week. Just 24 hours after unveiling its new Surface tablet, the company has sent out media invitations for a Windows Phone-related event.

Microsoft is set to hold its developer summit in California over the next two days. But the invites, which read "A sneak peek of the future of Windows Phone," specifically mention tomorrow morning...

Is there any hope left for Nokia? (probably not)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

It's not a typo: I really meant Nokia, not RIM. Look, the writing's on the wall. In the first quarter of 2012, only Apple and Samsung reaped benefits of the 41 percent year-over-year growth in the smartphone biz.

Together, the two frenemies accounted for 55 percent of global smartphone shipments in Q1 and an astounding 90 percent of the profits.

Apple shipped 35 million iPhones in Q1 while Samsung recorded 43 million global shipments. None of this is surprising. What's stunning is how sharp Nokia's decline is. Of all companies, beleaguered RIM, whose Q1 shipments dipped 20 percent, may soon surpass Nokia...

Windows Phone overtakes iPhone in China, Microsoft claims

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

In addition to having trouble catching up to Samsung in China, Microsoft's Windows Phone platform has now managed to outsell the iPhone in the 1.33 billion people market, if a high-ranked Microsoft executive in charge of the Greater China region is to be believed.

According to his data, Windows Phone market share in China now sits at seven percent, a percentage point ahead of the six percent market share enjoyed by the iPhone.

No reason to get enraged over this metric. Apple's in it for the profits, not market share and Nokia actually has a dominant presence and world-class distribution in this hugely important market. Let's hope Tim Cook's looking into those numbers as Apple needs to double down on China...

Hm, Apple okays iPad music player with Windows Phone Metro-style interface

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Apple tends to yank apps over duplicate functionality, use of private APIs and those that look and feel very much like stock iOS programs. So it goes without saying I was surprised to learn that the company approved Track 8, a $1.99 music player program by Ender Labs. That Apple greenlighted an app resembling a rival platform's UI rather than flaltly reject it is news in and of itself, you'll admit.

Maybe the company just doesn't care because Windows Phone is failing? Be that as it may, people will wonder if a Metro-style interface makes sense on iOS...