Microsoft expects to see growth of at least 50 percent year-over-year for its Windows Mobile operating system in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, according to Eddie Wu, managing director of Microsoft OEM Embedded Devices, Asia. Most of this growth is being attributed to increased smartphone demand.
Wu expects that Microsoft will meet its target of selling 20 million units of Windows Mobile in its current fiscal year (ending in June). Growth is also expected to continue at the same rate for the next two years with the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Brazil, Russia and India markets leading the way. Only a few weeks ago, Wu indicated that Microsoft expects to have a 40 percent smartphone marketshare by 2012.
Global smartphone shipments are growing at an equally blistering pace, recording a 52.5 percent growth this year (about 12 million units shipped in 2007). Gartner expects that growth will remain in the double digits in the next couple of years.