Even if Finn’s saviour may prove to be old biddies
New research suggests Microsoft’s Windows 8 op could soon overtake RIM in Europe, cementing the partnership between the Seattle giant and Finland’s Nokia in the smartphone arena. Italy, France and even the UK are increasingly proving converts to the Windows platform, according to research group Kantar Worldpanel, as Nokia’s entry-level smartphone the Lumia 610 finds appeal with cost-conscious consumers.Kantar’s research holds out hope for Nokia that it can still find a foothold in a market massively dominated by Apple and Samsung, though its rise comes at the expense of BlackBerry maker RIM.
Windows is now said to account for more than 10 per cent of the market in Italy, the first time Microsoft’s phone operating system has had double-digit market share in any European country, whereas RIM’s BlackBerry devices have fallen out of favour due to a lack of updates.
“Nokia is in a hockey stick curve, with a very sharp decline over the past few years. Now it has hit the bottom and there is a slight uplift,” Kantar director Dominic Sunnebo is reported as saying.
More than half of Europe’s consumers have yet to buy their first smartphone and the Nokia/ Microsoft combination may yet prove a winner, believe Kantar, especially among ‘technology laggards’ – albeit older women already familiar with traditional Nokia handsets.
Very interesting! I know that Nokia is huge in countries other than the US so it is hard to believe the doomsayers about the company. I eagerly await their progress with their new line of phones in the US.