TAIPEI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) expects global unit sales of its Windows Mobile software for cellphones to grow at least 50 percent per year in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 as demand for smartphones rises rapidly.
"Fifty percent growth is the minimum," Eddie Wu, the software company's managing director of OEM embedded devices Asia, told Reuters on the sidelines of a news conference on Tuesday.
He said Microsoft expects to sell 20 million units in its 2007/2008 fiscal year ending in June, and expects to grow at least 50 percent annually over the next two years. It sold over 11 million units of its Windows Mobile software in its 2006/2007 fiscal year ended June.
"We're actually still seeing very good growth (for our mobile software) in markets like Europe and the United States," said Wu.
Wu added that growth of Windows Mobile is seen fastest in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Brazil, Russia and India.
Microsoft's mobile communications division provides operating systems for smartphones and other mobile devices based on the Windows Mobile platform. Its clients include South Korea's Samsung Electronics (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research), Motorola (MOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), High Tech Computer (HTC) (2498.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) and Asustek Computer (2357.TW: Quote, Profile, Research).
Microsoft competes against Symbian-based operating systems which are used by vendors such as Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) and LG Electronics (066570.KS: Quote, Profile, Research).
It also faces stiff competition from other players such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research), Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIMM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) (RIM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), and Palm Inc (PALM.O: Quote, Profile, Research). Continued...
