Why Windows Phone Failed

Hey guys! Thanks for all the support! I really worked hard on this one and I'm proud of the results. I'm glad you like it too. I did realize one mistake. At 1:20 I spelled Steve Ballmer's name wrong. Whoops! Hope you enjoy.

At that point, Microsoft should have even paid developers to create apps for their Windows Phone, but they stupidly charged the annual development fee of $100, just like Apple, when they were not in Apple's position.

As a former Windows Phone user, I’m still sad that the platform never hit the heights it could have. The UI was amazing but the lack of apps made it so difficult to use. This was made worse by some big companies like Snapchat removing the ability for 3rd parties to produce apps for their platforms. I wish Microsoft had swallowed their pride and made it easier for developers to put their apps on windows phone. It may have saved it.

Windows phone somehow managed to be felt more closed system than iPhone.

I remember when some people were laughing at Lumia 1020 because of the large camera. Nowadays almost every phone has a monster camera like that.

I was a Windows Phone Ambassador in 2012-14 and wooow was it an uphill battle... Travelling around Universities and conferences to promote Windows phone, and the first question people had was "how does app X work on it?" only to say that it didn't even exist was humiliating...

I was working in a retail store for one of the big 4 mobile phone companies in the US when Windows Phone was a thing. I think one of the biggest shames of Windows Phone failing the way it did was the fact that it CRUSHED low end Android phones. A $150 Nokia Lumia Windows phone could run laps around an equally priced Android phone, but it was a hard sell since there were no apps for it.

I had two Windows phones back in the day, and honestly part of the reason I liked Windows Phone so much was precisely because it lacked a lot of the popular apps that iPhone and Android had. I had had an iPhone 4 previous to getting my first Windows Phone and it was really refreshing to switch to a phone that wasn't constantly hitting me with notifications and that I could actually put down for a while without feeling like I was missing out on something. I'm an Android guy now, but Windows Phone as a platform will always hold a place in my heart.

What do you mean "looks weird"?.. this is the most beautiful mobile OS still..

Youtube's been recommending more videos within people's interests but with lower views/popularity lately.. This is the first time I didn't even notice. This is solidly put together. Well done.

I still love the minimalistic magazine-style UI of windows phone. It looks fresh and stylish. I had a windows phone back in 2013 and I loved it, but as everyone else says, the only drawback is the lack of apps.

I worked at the Microsoft Store during the Windows Phone run. I loved my windows phone. The OS was clean, I loved the live tile updates, even the 3rd party apps that they had for social media apps like IG and Snapchat were waaay better than the official apps. They really should've paid others developers to get on their phones. It could've changed the landscape

I'll never get over this. Windows phone was my first choice for the new era or smartphones (2009-onward) and i was holding on until 2016 when i was forced to switch. Still my favourite user experience

Lack of apps killed it. Their Nokia built phones were really rugged and I had a 6” screen device, back when people thought it was crazy to have a big smartphone.

i had a couple of Lumia phones and i loved it. The only problem was the lack of apps and third party support. But other than that, it was very well designed and built, had a UI design i really loved and was way cheaper than the competition at the time. I wish they had lasted longer.

Man seeing that yellow Lumia with the huge camera is uber nostalgic, brings me back. Always thought the UI looked slick, but had no doubt they would eventually fizzle out and die.

I was slinging phones back when that Windows Nokia phone dropped and that thing was a BEAST with no fangs...great phone, ZERO apps!!!

It was such a shame popular apps refused to make Windows Phone versions, I loved my Lumia 930's camera, but the lack of apps made it impossible to stay.

I had a windows phone, and it was by far the best phone i ever had, never let me down,and served me well for good 7 years .

Loved my Lumia Phone and the Windows UI.