Windows Phone to Continue Decline Due to Lack of Flagships

[RoadWarrior]

Windows Phone’s market share is expected to drop in the next few months due to the lack of flagships in Microsoft’s lineup, a new report claims.

Citing its “sources at Taiwan’s handset supply chain,” Digitimes writes that the global market share of Windows Phone is expected to go down in the first six months of 2015 because Microsoft does not plan to introduce a new flagship model and instead prefers to stick to affordable phones.

At the same time, these affordable devices do not provide the price/performance ratio of entry-level and mid-range Android smartphones, so Windows Phone is expected to lose the battle in this sector as well, the report adds.

Windows Phone 10, the next version of Microsoft’s smartphone platform, is expected to arrive in late summer or early fall 2015, according to people familiar with Redmond’s plans, most likely together with the next version of Windows for desktops and tablets.

Flagship possibly launching with Windows Phone 10

Microsoft is indeed focusing a lot more on affordable models these days, as the company has recently launched the first device wearing its badge after dumping the Nokia brand.

Lumia 535 is available in a number of markets where affordable models sold really well, but the company is already working on some new phones supposed to better tackle the growing demand for cheap devices.

For example, recent evidence found online has suggested that Microsoft is even working on launching a Lumia phone that would be part of the 4xx series and obviously coming with a very low price, while still offering decent hardware specs.

But as far as flagships are concerned, rumor has it that Microsoft won’t be launching any new high-end phone until the debut of Windows Phone 10, so users might still have to wait a few more months to get it.

WP10 coming next year

Microsoft will be holding a Windows 10 consumer event next month and the company is also expected to share more details on its Windows Phone plans, with some sources hinting that a preview version could be released to devices enrolled in the Preview for Developers program.

Of course, don’t take this for granted because Microsoft could always change its mind if something goes wrong in the development process, but there’s no doubt that the firm wants to bring both Windows Phone 10 and Windows 10 to the market as soon as possible.

Windows Phone 10 is also expected to be available for ARM tablets and thus completely replace Windows RT, but more info will only be provided next month, during the Windows 10 event.