Whether you’re an avid reader of our From the Orchard blog or simply a tech aficionado, you likely have familiarized yourself with the major players in mobility. We often talk about AirWatch (a VMware product), MobileIron and MaaS360 (IBM’s platform). And when we do, we discuss how enterprise mobility management platforms like these can help companies find one seamless way to manage all of their mobile devices, regardless of type and operating system.
While this is most certainly true, let’s face it: the Android and Apple operating systems are running on the lion’s share of devices in today’s mobile market (79.4% and 14.8% respectively, according to research firm IDC). In contrast, the Windows OS holds just 3.2% of market share. While the future of the Windows phone remains uncertain, Computer World shares an interesting perspective on its place in the market:
Despite rumors that Microsoft is about to kill Windows Phone, some industry observers say that’s unlikely for several reasons, especially the expected gains from the rollout of Windows 10, which will run on smartphones and other devices.
…Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research … predicted that Microsoft will keep Windows Phone alive in future iterations, but will “not invest in trying to drive more market share.” Microsoft will want to give Windows Phone enough presence in the market to keep developers involved so that Microsoft “is in the position to take advantage of future opportunities. …There may be opportunities to make Windows Phone a viable OS at some point.”
The article goes on to summarize recent moves made by Microsoft that are likely to have an impact on its mobile efforts.
At the same time, Microsoft is dipping its toe into the EMM waters with the introduction of InTune. Microsoft’s InTune was recognized in the Visionary Quadrant of Gartner’s recently released Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Mobility Management Suites.
According to Microsoft, “InTune provides mobile device management, mobile application management, and PC management capabilities from the cloud. Using Intune, organizations can provide their employees with access to corporate applications, data, and resources from virtually anywhere on almost any device, while helping to keep corporate information secure.”
While that sounds awfully familiar, we will be keeping close watch on this platform and Microsoft’s evolving approach to mobile to see if it will become a formidable competitor in the space.
