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What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:10 pm
by lakes
I currently have an app launcher that looks like Windows Phone did, Square Home. But in spite of my nostalgia for Windows Phone's live tiles and innovation, I'm not sure I'd use it if it still existed.
What do you think would happen if it still existed, would it break up the current duopoly in mobile phones, or just fade into obscurity like now? Would Microsoft try and use it to become the next Apple by making Windows into a walled garden ecosystem? My guess is it would have a small cult following, kinda like Linux phones, well, Linux phones that aren't Android. I'd also answer the 2nd question with a "yes", since they also tried to get in on the success of other mp3 players like the iPod by making Zune.
I could see a universe where Windows Phone succeeded among businesses and office employees like Blackberry did with flip phones.
My guess is that the main reason Windows Phone failed is that despite making up most laptops & desktop computers, they don't really have a dedicated userbase. Some Apple fans are passionate about Apple, like real passionate. But Windows users tend to not have the same excitement for Windows.
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:25 pm
by scarfysquared
r u talking about like. phone os or windows phone as a whole
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 12:03 am
by lakes
scarfysquared wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:25 pm
r u talking about like. phone os or windows phone as a whole
windows phone as a whole. idk what phone os even would be in this context
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 12:07 am
by scarfysquared
lakes wrote: Fri Dec 19, 2025 12:03 am
scarfysquared wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:25 pm
r u talking about like. phone os or windows phone as a whole
windows phone as a whole. idk what phone os even would be in this context
i was a bit confused cuz i thought it wouldve been os like how ios or android are lol
i think windows phone wouldve been a nice alternative for people who like the things windows brings but not the other phone stuff like facebook coming preinstalled for some god forsaken reason. like me.
there's a lot of phones who do a different gimmick but its still like,, the same ecosystem of samsung and apple at the end of the day,, when we have like 300 different alternatives that can and may be way cooler than whatever apple and samsung bring
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 10:01 am
by kornfan1799
lakes wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:10 pm
I currently have an app launcher that looks like Windows Phone did, Square Home. But in spite of my nostalgia for Windows Phone's live tiles and innovation, I'm not sure I'd use it if it still existed.
What do you think would happen if it still existed, would it break up the current duopoly in mobile phones, or just fade into obscurity like now? Would Microsoft try and use it to become the next Apple by making Windows into a walled garden ecosystem? My guess is it would have a small cult following, kinda like Linux phones, well, Linux phones that aren't Android. I'd also answer the 2nd question with a "yes", since they also tried to get in on the success of other mp3 players like the iPod by making Zune.
I could see a universe where Windows Phone succeeded among businesses and office employees like Blackberry did with flip phones.
My guess is that the main reason Windows Phone failed is that despite making up most laptops & desktop computers, they don't really have a dedicated userbase. Some Apple fans are passionate about Apple, like real passionate. But Windows users tend to not have the same excitement for Windows.
Lowkey thought u were talkin about windows mobile (Windows CE based) but nah its the phone thing,anyways if it still existed it would cause unforeseen consequences if microsoft held their shit lmao ,i mean windows phone werent that bad but theyve been could done better i remember having one and it was decent and cool,idk where that phone is,its prolly lost lmao.
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 1:20 pm
by Daniele63
Windows Phone failed because Microsoft made it hard for phone manufacturers to cooperate with them, by imposing more control over the hardware user experience than Google, which meant that nobody wanted to partner with them to produce their phones and their app store became an empty wasteland so nobody wanted to use it.
In another universe where Microsoft took better decisions, such as releasing their phone earlier than 2010 and being more easy to work with, the Windows Phone would still be around, maybe it would even have taken Android's place in the duopoly.
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2025 6:41 am
by twpclattycell
Yeah I can't wait for copilot to datamine my phone as well
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2025 2:23 pm
by lakes
twpclattycell wrote: Sun Dec 21, 2025 6:41 am
Yeah I can't wait for copilot to datamine my phone as well
lol i mean it probably would, you are right
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2025 2:38 pm
by Daniele63
twpclattycell wrote: Sun Dec 21, 2025 6:41 am
Yeah I can't wait for copilot to datamine my phone as well
We dodged a bullet there
Re: What Do You Think Would've Happened if Windows Phone Still Existed?
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2025 2:42 pm
by lakes
Daniele63 wrote: Sun Dec 21, 2025 2:38 pm
twpclattycell wrote: Sun Dec 21, 2025 6:41 am
Yeah I can't wait for copilot to datamine my phone as well
We dodged a bullet there
yeah now it's other companies like google & apple using ai to datamine your phone
(but yknow at least those can be easily disabled i think)