1. Is Windows Phone the Answer for the Microsoft-Based Office?
The powerhouses of the iOS and Android operating systems currently dominate the
smartphone marketplace. However, there is a new player on the field that is rapidly gaining
an appreciable fan base: the Windows Phone. Boasting an operating system and design that
are substantially different from both the iOS and the Android, the Windows Phone is touted
as the mobile device for the Microsoft user base.
Unless you’ve been under a rock lately, you know that the 2013 International Consumer
Electronics Show is underway this week. Among the many announcements being made by
technology powerhouses at the show, both Sprint and Samsung announced Windows
Phone offerings. Clearly, the phone has appeal for consumers but what about its benefits in
a corporate environment?
Given that most businesses use Microsoft
software daily, is this phone the logical choice
for corporations nationwide? To answer this
question, we must look at the capabilities of the
phone itself, as well as the types of mobile
strategies that businesses are currently
pursuing.
The Windows Phone was built to work well with
the Microsoft suite of products, particularly the
new Windows 8 operating system. With
applications for both Microsoft
Office and Microsoft Dynamics, the phone
should be immediately attractive for businesses
given the prevalence and functionality of those programs. However, this device has steep
competition from its Android and iOS counterparts for this same functionality. While these
products may not offer direct integration, both offer powerful word processing and CRM
programs. Additionally, Microsoft is rumored to have an office application for iOS ready for
release sometime early this year. Because apps continue to be released every day that add
functional value across every mobile operating system, proprietary applications do not
hold significant appeal.
But what about the value of a direct integration with Microsoft Windows OS? The value of
that proposition begins with companies incorporating the integration directly into their
business strategy. In the recent past this was not a problem, as many companies would
provide employees with mobile devices. However, with the advent of the “bring your own
device” trend, this strategy is quickly becoming outdated. Because employees use their own

2. mobile device, often of the Android or iOS variety, the value of a Microsoft integration with
the Windows Phone goes way down.
Reference Link: http://technorati.com/technology/article/is-windows-phone-the-answer-
for/