Smartphone Thoughts: Microsoft Ignores Looming iPhone and Android Threat

"Microsoft has positioned Windows Mobile quite nicely in the enterprise but it seems these days that the buzz is in the consumer space. Apple's recent revelations that they've sold 6.8 million iPhone 3Gs in a quarter and the release of the first Android phone have moved the attention squarely into the consumer space. In a recent interview by Techradar the business lead for Microsoft Windows in the UK, John Curran, stated that Microsoft isn't worried about either competitor."

I personally feel that Microsoft is looking at this the wrong way. Instead of looking at this problem as one you should ignore because of limited form factor and limited distribution, they should be paying more attention to the emotional influence these devices have on their users. No matter how you feel about the iPhone the truth is that the device has changed the landscape and given consumers a new direction to turn to for their mobile computing. Just being the Swiss Army knife of devices means next to nothing if no one wants to use them. I can understand the need for corporate speak every now and then but hearing it more frequently in regards to Windows Mobile makes me a little afraid that the next version of the operating system will be just more of the same. Maybe Microsoft really hasn't picked up on the fact that users prefer more easily to navigate devices that are fun to use.