WP7 Sales Low Q1 – Nokia Deal to Brighten Up Future (Gartner)

Gartner, Inc. has released actual sales numbers for all mobile device manufacturers and operating systems. We all know that it would be a long hard fought race to the top for Microsoft and WP7. So these number shouldn’t really surprise anyone – especially Windows Phone users.

Windows Phone saw only modest sales that reached 1.6 million units in the first quarter of 2011, as devices launched at the end of 2010 failed to grow in consumer preference and CSPs continued to focus on Android. In the long term, Nokia’s support will accelerate Windows Phone’s momentum.

[smartads]

So Microsoft has reportedly sold only  1.6 million WP7 devices in the first quarter of 2011. We are going to read tons of reports stating how this is a huge deal and questioning the platform itself. Well, as important as it is to know the current state of the OS as far as sales are concerned. I think it is far more important and useful to know where it is going. For that let me show you guys the next chart, which to me works like a crystal ball into the future…

Nokia by far is the worlds largest mobile phone manufacturer. In which later this year will act as an exclusive one to Windows Phone. Even if only half of Nokia users keep on buying their phone later this year, it will easily propel WP7 past IOS to take 2nd place. If they take more than that (which they easily should) Microsoft and Windows Phone will be right behind of Android as far as sales are concerned.

Source: Gartner