6 of 6
BACKNEXT
The odd man out: Windows Mobile
As the mobile OS market turns more toward general consumers, Microsoft's Windows Mobile has chosen to focus on the business sector, with lackluster results. As the mobile systems debate heats up, Windows Mobile has been largely left out of the conversation, mainly because it's so behind its competitors in interactivity and functionality.

But Windows Mobile is available on about 40 models, and most are from smaller manufacturers such as i-mate -- and that number is expected to grow only minimally with the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 in October. As the smartphone industry ballooned last year, Windows Mobile's market share fell.

Gartner's Dulaney attributes the stall to Windows Mobile's user experience; its current version hasn't evolved much beyond the one Microsoft launched four years ago. When most companies made user experience their top priority, Dulaney says Microsoft neglected it. "Microsoft has tried and failed in the past," he says. "They have a big challenge to in 2010."

More galleries
Last updated October 05 2009: 2:46 PM ET
Email | Print | Share  |  RSS
 
google my aol my msn my yahoo! netvibes
Paste this link into your favorite RSS desktop reader
See all CNNMoney.com RSS FEEDS (close)
More Galleries
5 biggest share buybacks of 2014 Stock repurchases are booming. These five companies are ready to spend over $79 billion on buybacks. More
10 horrifying corporate mascots McDonald's Happy is part of a long lineage of creatures great and small that shill for products and mortify consumers. Mr. Mucus, anyone? More
5 best cities to launch a career The top spots in the U.S. for new grads to land a job -- and actually enjoy life -- according to financial site WalletHub. More

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.