New flagship Windows Phone devices should help revive Windows' market share in the high-end smartphone space
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had some successes to be grateful for in Q4 2014, growing sales of its Lumia smartphones to a record 10.5 million units. But much of that volume was driven by low end models like the Lumia 530 and Lumia 630/635; Microsoft's sales have slowed on the mid-range and high-end markets. The key reason for this slowdown is a lack of internationally available product. Indeed Microsoft had no clear flagship device in late 2014 that could keep up with Android OEMs hardware-wise.
That may soon change. In a recent Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) press release, Microsoft's VP of high-end Lumia phones, Juha Kokkonen drops a hint that high-end Windows smartphones are on the way. He comments:
We look forward to continuing this relationship to deliver best in class Lumia smartphones, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processors, and offer an unprecedented combination of processing power, rich multimedia, high-performance graphics and wireless connectivity for our customers.
It might seem odd for Qualcomm to tap Microsoft for comment on its press release, but the applications processor (AP) chipmaker, is trying to circle the wagons after Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd.(KRX:005930) (KRX:005935) dropped its Snapdragon 810 system-on-a-chip (SoC) from its upcoming Galaxy S6 according to sources. That move makes smaller OEMs like Microsoft more important to Qualcomm.
The Snapdragon 810 is headed soon to Windows smartphones near you.
Microsoft may look to use the chip's native 4K video and imaging support to power a next generation successor to the beloved mid-2013 Lumia 1020. It may also look to release a successor to last year's flagship -- the Lumia 930 -- which saw limited availability in the U.S. Microsoft will likely opt for "Lumia #40/#45" and "Lumia 1#40/1#45" branding for these devices, based on past numbering.
Microsoft's smartphones will get a boost from Windows 10, which is set to arrive in finished form as a free upgrade this fall for traditional PCs, tablets, and smartphones. The first public preview build for smartphones is expected to be released to volunteers later this month.
High end smartphones could help legitimize Microsoft's platform and make it more of a contender in markets like the U.S. where cost is less of a factor. Microsoft will need to bring out its best hardware as its rivals are also planning to use Qualcomm's latest and graetest SoCs. The Snapdragon 810 is expected to also debut in a broad array of Android devices including the HTC Corp.'s (TPE:2498) HTC One M9 (2015) and LG Electronics, Inc.'s (KRX:066570)(KRX:066575) LG G Flex 2.
Source: dailytech.com
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had some successes to be grateful for in Q4 2014, growing sales of its Lumia smartphones to a record 10.5 million units. But much of that volume was driven by low end models like the Lumia 530 and Lumia 630/635; Microsoft's sales have slowed on the mid-range and high-end markets. The key reason for this slowdown is a lack of internationally available product. Indeed Microsoft had no clear flagship device in late 2014 that could keep up with Android OEMs hardware-wise.
That may soon change. In a recent Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) press release, Microsoft's VP of high-end Lumia phones, Juha Kokkonen drops a hint that high-end Windows smartphones are on the way. He comments:
We look forward to continuing this relationship to deliver best in class Lumia smartphones, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processors, and offer an unprecedented combination of processing power, rich multimedia, high-performance graphics and wireless connectivity for our customers.
It might seem odd for Qualcomm to tap Microsoft for comment on its press release, but the applications processor (AP) chipmaker, is trying to circle the wagons after Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd.(KRX:005930) (KRX:005935) dropped its Snapdragon 810 system-on-a-chip (SoC) from its upcoming Galaxy S6 according to sources. That move makes smaller OEMs like Microsoft more important to Qualcomm.
The Snapdragon 810 is headed soon to Windows smartphones near you.
Microsoft may look to use the chip's native 4K video and imaging support to power a next generation successor to the beloved mid-2013 Lumia 1020. It may also look to release a successor to last year's flagship -- the Lumia 930 -- which saw limited availability in the U.S. Microsoft will likely opt for "Lumia #40/#45" and "Lumia 1#40/1#45" branding for these devices, based on past numbering.
Microsoft's smartphones will get a boost from Windows 10, which is set to arrive in finished form as a free upgrade this fall for traditional PCs, tablets, and smartphones. The first public preview build for smartphones is expected to be released to volunteers later this month.
High end smartphones could help legitimize Microsoft's platform and make it more of a contender in markets like the U.S. where cost is less of a factor. Microsoft will need to bring out its best hardware as its rivals are also planning to use Qualcomm's latest and graetest SoCs. The Snapdragon 810 is expected to also debut in a broad array of Android devices including the HTC Corp.'s (TPE:2498) HTC One M9 (2015) and LG Electronics, Inc.'s (KRX:066570)(KRX:066575) LG G Flex 2.
Source: dailytech.com
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