Summary: Microsoft's mobile platform is so far behind the competition that even half a billion spent on marketing can't kick-start it

DID anyone not see this coming? Despite spending extraordinary amounts of money 'injecting' positive coverage into media and billboards, the monopolists still cannot compete in the mobile space, which is why it turned to patent lawsuits instead.

To give some anecdotal numbers (Microsoft is too embarrassed to disclose, confirm, or deny), Android phones sell at about 15 times the speed that Microsoft-based phones (all combined) can sell even shortly after a hyped up launch. But it's not just the phone business though. Microsoft is said to have spent a similar amount of money marketing the KINect. A month after its release only about 5% of Xbox 360 buyers bought it. That's horrible, no matter how Microsoft chooses to spin it. So, despite Microsoft spending hundreds of millions of dollars advertising these hardware products, none of selling too well. Microsoft's mobile crisis is years old.

Gadgetsteria.com goes with the headline: "Windows Phone 7 Another Flop? Amazon Puts Samsung Focus on Fire Sale."

Windows Phone 7 was supposed to be Microsoft’s grand re-entry into the smartphone market. After languishing with Windows Mobile for several years too long, it seemed that Redmond had finally gotten their “groove” back. And then there was the Kin hiccup. It never really did make too much sense — the Kin. It was targeting teens and “preparing them” for their later years with more advanced smartphones. The biggest problems however, were rather ugly hardware and bundling said hardware with fairly expensive data plans — money that tweens and teens typically don’t have. Is Microsoft on track for another Kin flop, except this time with Windows Phone 7?

OpenBytes says:

What I think Microsoft is missing here are users. Considering developing for WP7? Who exactly will use your product? It’s very nice (for some) to be able to use VB to develop apps I’m sure, but rather pointless if you can’t get a user base for your software. Consider the recent news that Android outsells WP7 15-1 and as a developer tell me which platform is the more desirable?

Microsoft still remains tight-lipped about its sales for the WP7, but then we saw that before didn’t we? with the Kin disaster.

"Facebook figures suggest WinPho 7 user base still small," reports The Register:

Some interesting statistical jiggery-pokery hints that Windows Phone 7 isn't proving popular.

Microsoft makes a big deal out of the new smartphone OS' social networking support, so website WMPoweruser visited All Facebook to try and glean some usage data.

"Windows Phone 7 outsold by Android 15:1 in UK suggests retailer" say many other Web sites [1, 2, 3] based on anecdotes in a Microsoft-friendly market.

With Microsoft still refusing to provide Windows Phone 7 sales figures, retailers are stepping in with their own anecdotal evidence about the new smartphone platform’s market success – or lack of it.

[...] They also sourced some anecdotal feedback from other UK retailers, who reported that WP7 phones “are not selling” while demand for HTC, BlackBerry and iPhone remains strong.

Don't miss this old news from April:

Microsoft has launched a website dedicated celebrating phones and their use for music, gaming and photography.

OpenBytes has done some fantastic job uncovering Microsoft Web sites which pretend to be grassroots fans of Vista Phone 7 [sic]. Those who read he fine prints would realise it's just AstroTurfing (run by Microsoft). ⬆