Do You Think Windows Phone Can Become a Legitimate iPhone and Android Competitor?

This is a discussion thread for the "Do You Think Windows Phone Can Become a Legitimate iPhone and Android Competitor?" story posted on the front page.

Sure. They are great phones. Their App Store needs a little more development though.

Yeah, definitely possible. I used to be hardcore iOS only. But lately, Android itself has already been able to make me side with them from the Samsung Galaxy S3. If some company, like Nokia, makes an incredible flagship phone as Samsung did with the S3, I think it can take off. Already I'm feeling some love for the Windows 8 Microsoft Surface tablet, and I'm even considering buying a Microsoft Surface Pro considering it has an i5 processor and stylus/touch capabilities, something I had wished the iPad had from day one and still doesn't have. Surface has been out for less than a year and they're already considering these capabilities, they are innovating.

Yeah, forgot to mention that. That's a huge part of it. Nothing will ever, ever, EVER beat the iOS ecosystem. It's too good, too developed for anyone to ever beat. Apple has that.

Not with BB 10 on the horizon. Be scared.

Already upgraded to an HTC 8x... Honestly I'm loving it so much right now. Hopefully Microsoft rolls out updates and stays dedicated.

I doubt it. The problem with Windows Phone is, it doesnt have Android's freedom OR iOS's ease of use. Its an attempt to be a middleman without understanding why people chose the platforms they choose. So with no unique edge, not many apps, and a poor update track record (Ask anyone who bought a WP7 handset what they think of WP8), why would anyone want to chance it now?

I'm not saying its bad, or that Android/iOS are perfect. But those two have clear target audiences. WinPhone is just a "me too!" OS that doesnt bring anything new to the table.

BB10 may stand a chance just because of RIM's business reputation and BBM. That'll be a much more fair fight for the two dominate OSs.

It's colorful. So yes.

I stopped by a "Best Buy Mobile" store in the Daytona mall the other day. There were approximately 95 to 100 different phones on display. Only 1 (yeah, ONE ... O.N.E.) on display was a Windows phone. It had it's own dedicated stand toward the back of the store. Think it was getting any attention? Nope. There were a dozen or so people browsing the store, too.

Microsoft doesn't have a chance if they can't do better than that. I, personally, won't touch it with a 10-foot-pole. Not only is "Metro" an ugly front-end, it's just obvious (from all the places I've been around here) that NOBODY WANTS ONE.

YMMV, but that's what I'm seeing 'round here.