is Windows Phone/Mobile doomed

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › is Windows Phone/Mobile doomed

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tdgeek

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#1334500 30-Jun-2015 22:03

Athlonite: It'll be doomed if companies like Tower Insurance with their driving app (only for iPhone and Android) don't start thinking about us windows phone users too and it's not just them either my bank ( BNZ ) doesn't yet have a windows phone app (yet another iPhone android only) so I'm SOL if I wish to check my balance while I'm out and about and not near an ATM and the story goes on and on

I'm an Apple user, I dislike Android, and I have no interest in WP, but, I agree, WP needs to get apps to get more relevant. There should be three leading platforms that do it all. Currently there are three leading platforms (ability not share) but only two of them do it all. I recall an online discussion maybe two plus years ago, where i predicted WP will grow, at first slowly then ramp up. More users, more apps creates more users and more apps, but it hasn't happened. Nowt wrong with the phones nor the OS, its the apps. Something or someone, looking at you MS, needs to push this.

Athlonite

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#1334523 30-Jun-2015 23:24

grant_k:
Athlonite: ...
my bank ( BNZ ) doesn't yet have a windows phone app (yet another iPhone android only) so I'm SOL if I wish to check my balance while I'm out and about and not near an ATM and the story goes on and on

Does BNZ provide a mobile website?

Lack of a WP app also affects Kiwibank customers, but they do provide a decent mobile website which works pretty well.

Not sure about a mobil website but they do have an app that allows iPhone and Android users access to their account info and such which is what I was on about not really interested in trying to use a mobil website on my phone unless it's trademe and im running an auction or participating in one the only app they have for windows phone are trademe mall and propety which i'm not interested in at all

grant_k

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#1334525 30-Jun-2015 23:34

Athlonite:
grant_k:
Athlonite: ...
my bank ( BNZ ) doesn't yet have a windows phone app (yet another iPhone android only) so I'm SOL if I wish to check my balance while I'm out and about and not near an ATM and the story goes on and on

Does BNZ provide a mobile website?

Lack of a WP app also affects Kiwibank customers, but they do provide a decent mobile website which works pretty well.

Not sure about a mobil website...

Just as I thought, BNZ do have a mobile version of their website and it works perfectly well on my Lumia with large touch-friendly buttons.

Give this a try: BNZ Mobile Banking

lucky015

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#1334539 1-Jul-2015 01:17

I have to say that I firmly believe there needs to be a separation between mobile and desktop apps, I get wanting to have the 2 very close for continuity but windows phone in my eyes is the best example I have ever seen of why there needs to be at the very least a very clear and defined difference in the UI.

At this point until Microsoft escape the rut of "Here is Windows, Here is Windows on a phone, Here is Windows from a phone on a PC" I find it unlikely they will gain majority acceptance.

Microsoft already have pre-biased customer base from the PC market looking to them to see what they have to offer yet they still fail?

JayADee

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#1334556 1-Jul-2015 06:42

Handle9:
Athlonite: It'll be doomed if companies like Tower Insurance with their driving app (only for iPhone and Android) don't start thinking about us windows phone users too and it's not just them either my bank ( BNZ ) doesn't yet have a windows phone app (yet another iPhone android only) so I'm SOL if I wish to check my balance while I'm out and about and not near an ATM and the story goes on and on

This sort of thing is why I'm skeptical of the platform going anywhere. The sort of apps you are talking about don't have a use case on the desktop so I'm not sure there is a benefit being able to develop cross (Windows) platform. Meanwhile companies aren't going to develop apps for a platform that doesn't have many users as there is no ROI. The platform doesn't get more users because the app support is poor and Microsofts apps are available on all other platforms. Chicken, egg etc.

Windows Phone desperately needs a native killer app that is easily understood by "normal" users and has instant appeal. Given the incremental nature of mobile OS development recently I'm yet to be convinced there is one.

Those of you who are convinced Windows Phone will grow into a significant mobile OS may well be right, we'll just have to see who's right in a couple of years.

I don't think it needs a differentiated, native, 'killer' app. I think it needs all the basics the other platforms already have. Microsoft realises this and is trying to make porting apps easier for developers which is a good move. Maybe they should figure out some more incentives.

That's why I think Microsoft is going to have to keep prices lowest, keep offering good hardware, usable, friendly software and tough out some losses until they can catch up on the app side of things.

Once the apps catch up they could be a powerhouse. I'm looking forward to watching them emerge, lol.

MikeB4

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#1334557 1-Jul-2015 06:51

lucky015: I have to say that I firmly believe there needs to be a separation between mobile and desktop apps, I get wanting to have the 2 very close for continuity but windows phone in my eyes is the best example I have ever seen of why there needs to be at the very least a very clear and defined difference in the UI.

At this point until Microsoft escape the rut of "Here is Windows, Here is Windows on a phone, Here is Windows from a phone on a PC" I find it unlikely they will gain majority acceptance.

Microsoft already have pre-biased customer base from the PC market looking to them to see what they have to offer yet they still fail?

Hmmm, however Apple are moving OSX and iOS closer and Google is more or less have the same with Android and Chrome OS. The joining forces of Desktop, Mobile and Xbox
is a very good move for MS, Widows as a service across devices brings a true cooperative ecosystem.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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semigeek

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#1334596 1-Jul-2015 08:02

Is Windows phone doomed? I don't think so. I think market share in some countries has actually grown. Plus with the rumoured 940 and 940XL coming, I think Windows Phone will do well.

toyonut

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#1334693 1-Jul-2015 09:42

Microsoft has removed as many obstacles as they can with Windows 10 and the developer tools they have built for it to make apps compatible with a cross compile and minor changes. I want to see them make a good advertising push now and really make the platform visible.

I also want them to stabilize the crazy amount of different but very similar phones they have. Especially in the low end, how many 4, 5 and even 6 series phones are there with ~4" 480 x 854 screens, dual core, 4GB -8GB emmc and 512MB ram? What is the point of selling the 735 now that the 640 is out? Then there is a big jump from the 640 to the 830 and that is the cheapest way to get 16GB emmc on a Lumia.

Do a 740 with 16GB emmc, 2GB ram, Qualcomm 615 proc, 720P minimum and a good camera for about $450 to go between the 640 and the 830, although that would negate the 830...
Just pick 5 price points and make the best phone at each price point with Windows 10, simple. That way people can find a good Microsoft option no matter their budget and know they are getting a best in class device. They have already started this with the 520 and 640, just keep it going and stabilize the product lines.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

Dratsab

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#1334767 1-Jul-2015 10:34

Handsomedan:
reven: The way I see it, and I know many will disagree, iOS was the best when it first launched, up until about the iPhone 4s came out. That's when they stopped doing anything that great and just started minor updates. At that point android basically became the best smartphone/tablet platform, and is still to this day.

I simply couldn't disagree with you more.

I find Android so unintuitive and convoluted that I simply hate using it. God knows, I have tried. Some of the best hardware is on Android...but the software simply kills the experience.
I think the fragmentation/lack of standardisation are the biggest issues with the platform.

I have both Windows 8.1 and iOS devices and find them both to be intuitive and practical.

I have no desire to get under the hood on either platform, so both suit me well (and I am more like a typical user than most Geekzone members, I'd wager).

OK - a little off topic but, the part I've emphasised is the sort of thing I seem to see or hear on a relatively regular basis and it's something I don't quite understand.

Apple: To open an app - tap the icon...use the app
Android: To open an app - tap the icon...use the app

Apple: To install/update an app - go to the relevant store...find the app you want and install it or update it from the notification
Android: To install/update an app - go to the relevant store...find the app you want and install it or update it from the notification

By way of comparison I have an Apple iPhone 5s for work (soon to be upgraded to a 6+) which I use a lot. For my personal use I have a Samsung Galaxy Note II (which I rooted to get rid of all the damn bloat - something I do loathe about Samsung) which I use a reasonable amount. I find both very easy to use.

Back on topic - I think the push to integrate desktop/mobile is a very good move but my perception is that it's gotten off on the wrong foot by having vastly different iterations. I'm happy to be corrected here (I don't have any Windows mobile hardware) but from what I understand there is no backwards compatibility for apps and there is no upgrade path for older devices. Good integration should solve both of those problems and will open the mobile market to the millions of existing Windows developers out there, which should result in a flood of apps. The problem is providing users with an assurance their device will have a long life in terms of upgrades, and convincing two already app-rich communities there's a worthwhile reason for a switch.

Wade

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#1334832 1-Jul-2015 11:09

semigeek: Is Windows phone doomed? I don't think so. I think market share in some countries has actually grown. Plus with the rumoured 940 and 940XL coming, I think Windows Phone will do well.

The 940XL looks like a great device (assuming the rumour mill is correct), I'd definitely be keen to give windows phone another go if i had one of these, ticks pretty much all of my shortlist of hardware requirements

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