Based on the latest comScore report published on May 1, 2012, Microsoft Windows Phone usage in America continues to drop over a one year span and hit a very a low level of 3.9% market share in March 2012.
Based on three surveys conducted by DiscountASP.NET in February 2011, October 2011 and March 2012 with a total number of respondents of 730, 522 and 701 respectively, among DiscountASP.NET clients in the U.S. Windows Phone market share remains steady at about 20% since February 2011. In terms of smartphone adoption, DiscountASP.NET surveys also found that our customers remain heavy users of Google Android and Apple iOS which followed consistently with comScore results.
The adoption of Windows Phone among ASP.NET web developers at DiscountASP.NET is relatively high compared to general smartphone market share in the USA. While Windows Phone is still the fourth most popular smartphone in the U.S., it is the third most popular mobile OS among DiscountASP.NET customers.
With increased support from large mobile phone carriers in America including AT&T and Verizon this summer, Windows Phone could potentially recapture its market share. AT&T launched the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone handset in early April at a $99 price point for a two-year contract. To boost the Windows Phone market share, phone carriers and Microsoft could reach out to the ASP.NET web developer community through web hosting partners, as we observe that this niche is very loyal to Microsoft products.