Microsoft: Windows Phone 7 sales will top 30 million by end of 2011

By on May 28, 2010 at 10:29 AM
mobile May 28, 2010

30-Million-WP7

Here’s a fairly bold prognostication…with 2010 almost half way over, and not a single phone in the market, Microsoft is predicting sales of Windows Mobile 7 smartphones to eclipse 30 million units by the end of 2011. According to a recent Gartner study, 1.21 billion mobile phones were sold in 2009; 172 million of which were smartphones. The number of smartphones sold in 2010 and 2011 will undoubtedly be much higher than 172 million, however even at 300 million, 30 million would be a 10% worldwide market share in smartphones in just over one year. What do you think? Is it possible, or is Microsoft’s mobile division just setting itself up for disappointment with this lofty goal?

UPDATE: The original number we reported “314.7 million mobile phones were sold in 2009″ was incorrect, that number was for Q1 of 2009; not calendar year 2009. The article has been updated with the correct figures. Thank, Jarrett.

Read – Gartner Study

Read – Microsoft Prediction

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64 Comments

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  • George

    To reach that goal, they have to sell around 82,000 a day. Google says they are activating 100,000 Android phones a day. So, if the product does become a hit, Microsoft should be able to do that provided that people choose it over Android.

    The Windows Phone looks fun to use and feels engaging. Android looks dull, boring and complicated. I can see many people choosing it over an Android phone. And with the Xbox tie-in, they should be able to grab a lot of the gaming crowd. When the next Xbox blockbuster arrives on both Xbox and Windows Phone, that will drive a lot of sales for the phone.

    Of course, this all depends on whether Microsoft can execute. I’ve owned a number of Windows Mobile devices over the years and they all had one thing in common: constant freezes and lockups. Hopefully with the move to the latest Windows CE kernel and the new UI stack, these problems will be left in the past.

    • dario

      Spot on. Execution. This has always been a problem with Microsoft and in particular with their mobile solutions. They actually have something more to offer than Apple but that doesn’t mean squat if they cannot sell the message.

      And if they fail no big deal. Apple will take the ideas and concepts related to WM7 and make some tweaks to call it their own. Like they have done with everything mobile related since the first iPhone.

      • YAZombie

        You’re really funny!

      • MArkymark

        Ah yes, Microsoft never execute. Windows 7, record breaking sales, xbox live, most subscribers for anyonline gaming service ever, office 2010 etc etc etc. You apple fanboys need to wake up to relaity lol

    • http://twitter.com/ovijade Jade Bryan Jardinico

      Is an Apple iPhone a Smartphoneee? That would lessen the competition if they would erase the affiliate to iPhones. Can’t even multitask and lots of other things that smartphones do.

  • Keymaker

    I won’t bet the farm on it. Microsft is starting from zero again and not to many people are crazy about WP7.

    • bob

      it’s ridiculously ugly

  • Solomon Kleinsmith

    I can’t speak for others, but I’m crazy about the possibilities of WP7… I like the high spec requirements, the fresh design of the UI, the hardware options I’m going to have… and I have to say… I’m psyched about Zune play on a phone (especially with the rumors they’re going to lower the price to compete with Rhapsody).

    Then again, I’m not a big app user. I’m mostly just a user of calendar, IM, email, productivity & web on my phone… people who’re all about the apps will have to wait a while before the apps available on this phone will be even in the same league as iPhone and Android.

    I wonder if those numbers include Kin phones?

  • Jason

    I can see a good boost in sales if they show the benefits of Sharepoint 2010 Mobile to enterprise users.

  • http://www.absolutefiction.com Rono

    It all depends on the marketing muscle they employ to advertise the phone. Microsoft has all the money necessary to make it happen.

    I have used Windows Mobile since it was called Windows CE and the devices were just PDAs. I always thought MS’s strong point was never user-friendly interfaces.

    Now that they prove they can actually create a compelling user experience, they must overcome the crappy image they have in consumer’s minds. The right marketing campaign can do the job.

    Let’s hope they’re smart enough to hire the right people to pull it off.

  • epik

    1.21 GIGAWATTS!

    Or is that wireless phones sold?

    In any case, Microsoft has apparently invented a time machine and can tell you what the future is like in their own invented world.

  • Chut Pata

    The only reason I have a cell phone is because of the peace of mind it gives me that in case of emergency, I am close to a phone.

    With the chances that I can see the notorious Microsoft BSD (Blue Screen of Death) at the time of emergency, I can not have that peace of mind. Sorry Microsoft, I can tolerate a PC-BSD but not a cell phone BSD.

  • bob

    and if you believe that I have some nice oceanfront in Louisiana you might be interested in

  • caffesilvia

    Oh my!!! It’s a Magical iRevolution that will iTransform the entire world as we know it!!! *Jizz*

  • caffesilvia

    Wait, I thought this article was about Apple. Boooo.

  • michaele

    While this lie finally get Balmer fired?

  • stazz1006

    i dont care wat anybody says. microsoft is a great company that can make this happen

  • wayne

    i have windows mobile 6.1 in the Palm Pro and its been super solid. i think from talking to the mobile stores sales reps they say its more the phones than it is WinMo 6.1.
    my hotmail arrives instantly as fast as my laptop (with Messenger’s email notifier).
    i use Opera’s mobile browser which of course the new phones browsers are where its at.
    and my phone multi tasks…sure not with the prettiness of the Palm Pre but rarely freezes even with multi apps open. i am extremely hard user on all day long for hours.
    Next is either WinMobile 7 or WebOS (Palm) for my next phone. no thanks on Google Android.

  • Leonides

    Well I’m sure they’ll reach those numbers. All they have to do is flaunt that chart around to everyone. What! you don’t want a WP7? But we have a chart that says we’ll sell millions of them and you’re one of them.

  • Fmh

    dream on microsoft…
    They are definitely revamping everything on the UI end, but track record for MS shows that they always bark more than bite. I can see the whole android vs apple vs MS W7 battle, but expecting 30M in a year or so just doesnt seem like its gonna happen. More of a PR stunt to raise stock prices than anything.

  • spring

    s an Apple iPhone a Smartphoneee? That would lessen the competition if they would erase the affiliate to iPhones. Can’t even multitask and lots of other things that smartphones do. -http://www.chinaelectronicsmanufacturer.com/

  • former winmob user

    Microsoft also predicted that we all would be using windows tablet devices today… it will take a lot to get winmob out the hole.

  • winmofo

    They’ll beat that number. Every Droid owner I’ve shared my WP7 phone with walks away regertting buying the Droid. It’s that good and MSFT will sell every unit they can build. If parts can keep up with demand, watch out.

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