Sometime in the mid-90s, Microsoft released a series of supported devices that ran an operating system called Windows CE.
Fast-forward to the early 2000s; they released some of the first smart devices to have media capabilities and offer a rich browsing experience.
These devices were commonly referred to as PDAs (Personal digital assistants) because they weren’t always phones. Companies like HTC and Sony Ericsson produced flagship phones for the operating system.
In 2010, when Windows 8 was released, Windows mobile shifted into adjusting to a new design methodology that Microsoft called Metro.
Metro was a design language that offered users a series of tiles instead of a row of apps. The tiles had an advantage; they were live and interactive. They showed live data such as weather reports, emails, or news, similar to Android widgets today. However, some users found the tiles a bit confusing and overwhelming.
Subsequently, Microsoft desired its flagship hardware maker, which led to the tech company “NOKIA’S” acquisition for $7.2 billion in 2013.
The relationship between both tech giants didn’t really pay off nicely as the majority was not interested in Windows Mobile and its Metro design, and finally, Microsoft sold the mobile devices unit(Nokia) to HMD Global and Foxconn Technology for just $350 million.
At this point, most technology critics decided that Windows Mobile was dead, as the smartphone market was confirmed to be a total iPhone or Android duopoly. However, it was not until 2017 that Microsoft officially announced the end of Windows Mobile.
Rumors say the downfall of Microsoft phones truly began with the announcement of the Apple iPhone. Thankfully for Microsoft, the company still has many respected brands dominating various markets today.
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Image Source – Nokia, Microsoft
