Microsoft's Mobile OS is Losing Marketshare to Apple, RIM
Smartphones only recently have risen to sales prominence over more crude cell phone models. The shift has come largely thanks to more powerful and energy efficient mobile processors, putting unprecedented media, internet, and communications devices in the hands of users. A year ago, Microsoft looked comfortable in that market, coming off another year of growth and holding a promising 11 percent global marketshare, almost tied with Apple's 12.9 percent and just behind Research in Motion's 16 percent.
The picture became increasingly dismal for Microsoft over the course of 2009, though. According to market research firm Gartner, Windows Mobile's marketshare now stands at 7.9 percent. Apparently its competitors ate its lunch as Apple's (OS X) share rose to 17.1 percent and RIM also grew significantly, now at 20.8 percent.
