Hasta La Gadget!

BBM is currently available on both iOS and Android, and naturally BlackBerry, of course. This means that out of the more commonly used smartphone operating systems, it just leaves Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. Unfortunately for Windows Phone users, it looks like they will not be seeing BBM on their platform anytime soon. This is according to BlackBerry’s senior director of BBM business development, David Proulx, who told TrustReviews that BBM’s launch depended on the popularity and demand for it. “[The lack of a BBM Windows Phone app] is entirely market-driven. Our initial launch on iOS and Android was a function of the prevalence of those platforms.”

However this is not discrimination against Windows Phone as Proulx did state that BlackBerry would be willing to support any sizeable platform as they emerge.“As other platforms emerge, whichever they may be, we will execute on those platforms as well. It is not a statement of intent, and it’s not a strategic or religious thing, it’s just a function of when does it make sense and when is it something that consumers demand in sufficient numbers to make it worth our while and worth their while.” As it stands it would seem that Windows Phone is edging out BlackBerry slightly, but perhaps not enough for BlackBerry to decide it is worth their efforts just yet.

BBM Not Arriving For Windows Phone original content from Ubergizmo.

When it comes to search engines, which do you ultimately prefer? Google? Yahoo? Bing? Well for Windows Phone users, a survey conducted has found that Bing is being used by 52% of Windows Phone users based on their findings back in Q4 2013. This is apparently a drop from 58% in Q3 2014, but still significantly higher compared to the desktop search market share. So why is Bing so popular on Windows Phone devices? Well obviously because it is the default search engine and is built into the phone itself, meaning that for better or worse, Windows Phone users will use Bing by default, unless of course they choose to load up Google or Yahoo before searching.

Given that sometimes mobile internet speeds can be slow, depending on coverage, searching using the default search engine might be faster than loading up a different search engine, and then using it to search, which is a multiple step process. Similar to how one might use the search bar built into Android to fire up a quick search rather than launch the Chrome app and then searching through it. However the fact that the number has decreased from 58% to 52% would suggest that Windows Phone users are starting to switch, although it was not mentioned whether they might be switching to either Yahoo or Google.

In fact it was recently that Yahoo tried to make their presence felt on Android by acquiring Aviate, an Android launcher which will presumably come with Yahoo’s search and services installed, essentially overriding Google’s own search and weather services.

52% Of Windows Phone Users Use Bing For Search original content from Ubergizmo.

Right now, Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile operating system is being championed mainly by Nokia, which happens to be a company which was pretty much snapped up on whole by the software giant. Samsung did make an attempt to roll out a Windows Phone powered device before, but that did not really capture the imagination of the masses. Well, it seems that we have received word that Microsoft could very well pay up to a whopping $2.6 billion to the likes of Samsung, Huawei, Sony and other manufacturers in order to roll out Windows Phones devices in 2014.

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Microsoft Could Pay $2.6 Billion For Other Manufacturers To Produce Windows Phones Handsets original content from Ubergizmo.

There was a time when BlackBerry reigned supreme in the enterprise space, but as the company started to fall, many of their clients started turning to alternatives, resulting in BYOD programs where employees would bring in a host of devices running on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. This was a good program as it allowed employees to use devices they were familiar with, but if there was one drawback is that IT managers did not have the same amount of control over these devices like they did with BES and BlackBerry phones.

Last we heard, BlackBerry would be bringing BES support to Windows Phone and sure enough during an exclusive interview the folks at CrackBerry had with BlackBerry’s new CEO, John Chen, it was confirmed that not only does BlackBerry plan on bringing support to Windows Phone, but they are eyeing devices running on iOS and Android as well. According to Chen, “We’re going to protect their investment in iPhone, and Android, and everywhere else, even with Windows Phones.” Could this be BlackBerry’s strategy for the future? After all with BlackBerry only representing a fraction of the smartphone market, it is no longer an advantage to boast that only BlackBerry devices are supported by BES, and as the popular adage goes, if you can’t beat them, join them!

BlackBerry CEO Confirms BES Support For Windows Phone original content from Ubergizmo.

It goes without saying that Nokia dominates the global Windows Phone market share, the company closed out 2013 with over 92 percent of the entire WP market. Its Lumia brand has become very popular around the world. There aren’t a lot of OEMs that make smartphones powered by Microsoft’s mobile platform, but the company is said to be courting quite a few. Its reportedly in talks with Sony, while India’s XOLO has already announced its intentions of making a Windows Phone device. A number of Chinese manufacturers are also expected to jump on the bandwagon, and Nokia doesn’t seem too concerned.

Nokia’s Viral Oza says in an interview with The Economic Times that the addition of more players will help grow the ecosystem, coaxing more and more developers to come onboard, which would really encourage consumers to go out and actually buy Windows Phone devices. Oza is of the view that there will be no pricing war if new OEMs join the platform, so Microsoft won’t have to worry about margin pressure on its acquisition of Nokia’s hardware business. Later in this quarter, the $7.17 billion acquisition of Nokia’s hardware business by Microsoft is going to be closed, after which Redmond itself will become the biggest Windows Phone OEM in the market.

Nokia Not Worried About Increasing Competition From New Windows Phone OEMs original content from Ubergizmo.