Why MS hasn't taken over cell phones--yet

[Brad Isaac]

ZDNet Anchordesk has a commentary by David Coursey asking the simple question "If Microsoft is so invincible, why hasn't it sold more phones running the company's Windows Mobile Smartphone OS?"

"Globally, the Microsoft Web site shows only nine MS-powered Smartphones available. I know there are a bunch more. But, whatever the specific number, the average customer still has a hard time finding a phone with Microsoft inside.
Alex Slawsby, recently promoted to senior analyst at IDC, estimates that Microsoft captures a whopping 3 percent of global handset share, compared to 97 percent for Symbian. From what I can tell, Microsoft is kinda-sorta OK with this state of affairs. For now, anyway."
Do you think Microsoft will eventually lead the cell phone industry?

[bkbroil]

I don't think they are headed in the cellular phone industry to win. I beleive they are more heading into the home media market. All of their latest products appear to be more geared towards music and video. Which may be the smart way to go with the VOIP being available on the phones that come WiFi. I wonder if these motorola phones that have WiFi and allow the users to make phone calls over the internet is going to hurt the cellular phone industry.
If I purchase a phone that has WiFi, then I'm going to be using that inside my house since I already pay for the broadband access. I don't know, I'm still trying to figure out how the phone companies are going to make money with these new products.