The prior plan enabled many employees to purchase a Windows Mobile device costing upward of $300.00. Now lacking this enabler and considering that it’s their money, many employees are flocking to iPhone for the simple reason that it is the better (and cooler) device (even with the lack of multiple carriers). One such person was caught taking a picture of Steve B at the company meeting in September, Mr. Ballmer pretended to step on the poor guy’s iPhone and keep it until the end of the event.

In defense of Microsoft, the possible failure of Windows Mobile is a collaborative effort that includes the Teleco companies and phone manufactures. These companies just slowed innovation and increased cost by adding its own redundant/worthless services and features.

Yes Virginia, Windows Mobile is in trouble but there is hope if Microsoft follows a simple three step plan:

1. Leverage the Zune-HD platform – Here’s is a platform and online service that can compete. However, keep it simple stupid – bar any “experts” from making any design decisions leading to 30+ sub-par phones instead of a few really good ones.

2. Start with a single trusted carrier and own the platform – Recognize that these guys sell minutes – not phones or services!

3. Market effectively – Simply building a better (or just as good) platform still requires effective marketing. Be creative and focused with your advertising and don’t hide the Zune from the public. It has gotten much better; just keep on doing the right things.

I have a Blackberry Bold, A 3G iPhone and a Touch Diamond so I feel that I can make this comparison as I use all three daily. The person who stated about the openess of the WM operating system is very true and the fact that it can do all the thigns the others can do, even if it might get beaten in one area by others.

I have only played with the G1 belonging to my friends so I cannot fully comment but so far it just seems like a more stable version of WM but to me its at its early stages with apps.

I have a wealth of WM devices since I moved from the Sony Ericcson P910i to WM and I have always used customized ROMs that make full use of the operating system. I am currently in love with the Diamond and want the Touch HD, which is just a bigger, better version with a beautfiul HD screen!

The iPhone is the best for media such as music(thanks to the iPod), and the games are amazing, DS quality and the displaying of web pages but it always crashes out and multitasking…forget about it.

I just cannot wait to see what comes next, I am looking forward to the Palm Pre

As for WM, as I’ve said on here plenty of times my WinMo phone is fantastic. It has more features than any other mobile OS (especially the iphone) and the interface works great because I have total control over it unlike other interfaces (especially the iphone). Growing 20.6% is not an indication that WM is in trouble. Maybe the story should be about the OS that had negative growth.