Microsoft: over 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 devices sold

December 21, 2010 By Geoff Duncan

Microsoft says more than 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 devices have been sold in the platform's first six weeks on the market.

Since the launch of its new Windows Phone 7 mobile platform, Microsoft has been tight-lipped about sales figures for the platform, but now Achim Berg, the company’s mobile business corporate VP for mobile, has let slip some sales figures: Berg sales phone manufacturers have sold more than 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 devices in the platforms first six weeks of availability. The figure blows past previous industry estimates of Windows Phone 7 sales, which have been painted the platform as nearly dead-on-arrival with consumers, with reports of poor sales and a mobile marketing firm reporting this week that it’s seeing Windows Phone 7 devices outnumbered more than 100 to 1 by Android and iPhone devices.

“We are pleased that phone manufacturers sold over 1.5 million phones in the first six weeks, which helps build customer momentum and retail presence,” Berg said in a statement. “We know we have tough competition, and this is a completely new product. We’re in the race—it’s not a sprint but we are certainly gaining momentum and we’re in it for the long run.”

Microsoft’s partners in the Windows Phone 7 platform have launched nearly a dozen Windows Phone 7 devices in the United States, Canada, and selected European markets. Five Windows Phone 7 devices from Samsung, LG, HTC, and Dell are currently available in the U.S. on T-Mobile and AT&T.

Although Berg was not specific in his comments, the 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 devices sold are likely the number of devices that have been delivered to retailers, carriers, and distributors, rather than devices that are current in consumers’ hands. And although 1.5 million devices sounds like a big number, in comparison Apple sold well over one million iPhone 4 handsets in the device’s first three days of availability, and Samsung sold more than 1 million Galaxy S Android smartphone in the U.S. market in the devices’ first month and a half of availability.

Showing 6 comments

SMT at 4:29am 27th December 2010 The 1.5 MILLION IS THE NUMBER SHIPPED TO RETAILERS, not the numbers sold to customers like the Android, iPhone, Blackberry, and Nokia numbers quoted. The estimated numbers actually bought by customers is being kept secret by Microsoft, presumably because the are so bad. The best estimate we have of NUMBERS ACTUALLY SOLD IS 200000, from statistical analysis of the free Facebook app shipped with the phone. The remainder are sitting on shelves and will eventually be returned to Microsoft for a refund if they don't sell.
Guest at 11:55am 21st December 2010 Some how Google selling 1 million in 6 weeks is great but Microsoft selling 1.5 million in 6 weeks is suspicious. You guys are a joke.
1. ioman at 12:10pm 21st December 2010 Where is your evidence to backup how many Android phones were sold in 6 weeks?
  1. SMT at 4:38am 27th December 2010 The numbers for other phones are tracked from new activations - the figures are an accurate representation of the numbers actually sold to customers. Microsoft has these accurate figures for these same numbers of Windows Phone 7s sold to customers, but is not releasing them and has instead released the numbers of phones shipped to retailers. The only reason for doing this is if the sales to customers are so appalling that releasing them would undermine customer and retailer confidence to the extent that the phone may have to be abandoned as with the Kin phone Microsoft launched earlier this year. I don't think Microsoft will actually pull Windows Phone 7, because it needs to maintain a foothold in the mobile devices market no matter what, but it is apparent that the sales are very poor.
Patrick at 11:35am 21st December 2010 Just give it time Windows Phone is a great idea. They just need to get it back in the corporate mindset. They really didn't do themselves any favors with Windows Mobile 6...
ioman at 11:21am 21st December 2010 Sad. Looks like another failure for Microsoft.