Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system for smartphones is starting to peak consumers’ interest, according to a report from The NPD Group.
Connected Intelligence, a service from The NPD Group, found that 44 percent of smartphone owners, and those who intend to buy such a handset, are considering purchasing a Windows Phone 7 device.
For now, Google’s Android operating system is all the rage: Android is the preferred platform among smartphone owners and those who intend to buy a smartphone over the next six months, The NPD Group noted.
Android runs two of every five smartphones in America, according to findings from Nielsen’s July research.
“The Android juggernaut continues, and that’s not great news for some of their OS competitors," said Linda Barrabee, research director for Connected Intelligence, in a statement. “For example, one-third of BlackBerry smartphone owners are most interested in Android for their next smartphone purchase."
Microsoft’s platform could become popular thanks, in part, to a strategy partnership the software giant announced earlier this year with the world’s largest handset manufacturer, Nokia Corp.
But to date, Connected Intelligence found that 45 percent of consumers are not aware of Microsoft’s new platform. And Windows Phone 7 has just 1 percent of the U.S. smartphone market, Nielsen said earlier this month.
“Windows Phone 7 has a way to go before consumers really understand what it is," Barrabee said. “But with the right marketing mojo, apps portfolio, and feature-rich hardware, Microsoft could certainly improve its standing and chip away at Android’s dominant market position."
Market researcher IDC doesn’t think Microsoft’s platform will gain significant market share until Nokia introduces Windows Phone-powered smartphones in large volumes next year.
“Nevertheless, assuming that Nokia's transition to Windows Phone goes smoothly, the OS is expected to defend a number 2 rank and more than 20% share in 2015," IDC said in a press release June 9.
