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.
