Top 10 Windows Phone perks over Android and iOS
We give Microsoft's platform its chance to shine against market-leading rivals
Android and Apple devices dominate the smartphone market. Research frequently shows that the two operating systems enjoy huge leads over Microsoft, in third place with its Windows Phone operating system.
However, it is clear that Redmond has no desire to give up on its attempts to push into the smartphone market, with its recent Windows Phone 8.1 update including a raft of new features to try and tempt buyers. Furthermore, with its purchase of Nokia due to be finalised soon, Microsoft will no doubt continue to push its platform hard, as it attempts to close the gap on its rivals.
So, after giving Android and iOS their chance to shine, here we pick out some of the key features of the Windows Phone world that could entice you away from the big two.
10. Good performance without breaking the bank
While Android does offer a slew of cheap devices, the vast majority of these use middling components and come with bare-bones specifications. When it comes to Apple, of course, price is never going to be anything other than premium.
Windows Phone, by comparison, has very low system requirements, so it is able to run smoothly with average components.
This has been showcased on several devices, such as the Nokia Lumia 520, Lumia 625 (shown in our video review below) and Lumia 720, which not only offer solid performance, but do so at price points that any business or individual can justify splashing out on.
Top 10 Windows Phone perks over Android and iOS
We give Microsoft's platform its chance to shine against market-leading rivals
9. Outlook and Exchange Server access
Microsoft's Outlook Mobile email client is one of the most useful and user-friendly smartphone services available.
Like the Windows Phone People Hub, it lets users collate all their email accounts – including Microsoft services and third-party ones such as Gmail – into one user-friendly feed, making managing work and personal emails a far simpler task.
As an added perk, concerned CIOs will be able to control smartphones connected to the network thanks to Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 integration, which grants them full Information Rights Management powers.
8. Cortana voice assistant on its way
Apple was the first to tout a digital voice assistant as a nifty addition to its iPhones in the form of Siri, and despite its somewhat hit-and-miss output, it can be a handy tool when you’re driving or too lazy to type. Google followed Siri with Google Now.
Microsoft has now followed suit with the addition of its own voice assistant in its latest Windows Phone update. Even better for fans of the classic Halo franchise, Microsoft has named it Cortana, the game's helpful female guide, and roped in the same actress to provide the voice.
It’s not a ground-breaking must-have addition, but just another tick in the box for Windows Phone against the benchmark set by Apple. Microsoft will begin rolling this out later in the year.
7. Microsoft-Nokia tie-up to streamline device development
Buying a Windows Phone leaves you almost exclusively choosing between Nokia’s range of Lumia devices. This is no bad thing, though, as the Lumia range boasts some impressive devices, not least the 41MP 1020 camera phone.
With Microsoft now about to complete its buy of Nokia, this should only improve as the two companies combine their research and development muscle and continue to enhance and improve these devices.
The model of creating one portfolio of devices built for a specific operating system has proved widely successful for Apple and the iPhone, so Microsoft and Nokia could well create similar success going forward.
Top 10 Windows Phone perks over Android and iOS
We give Microsoft's platform its chance to shine against market-leading rivals
6. No malware
For the past few years security firms have been warning that criminals are altering their malware campaigns to target mobile operating systems.
But so far the campaigns have generally focused on Google's Android operating system while Windows Phone has remained blissfully malware free.
This is, in part, due to its low market share – recent data suggests it has a share of around 10 percent in the UK – but mainly due to Microsoft's robust set of security procedures. The firm vets any application seeking to run on Windows Phone, ensuring malware-ridden Trojan apps don't get a look in.
5. Burgeoning app ecosystem
For years one of the central criticisms levelled at Windows Phone and its ecosystem was the lack of key apps. While iPhone and Android users have long enjoyed a plethora of applications, many moaned that Windows Phone lacked the big guns such as Instagram, Spotify and Vine. Well, that's no longer an issue.
Now all the big apps are on Windows Phone and the Modern UI means they are lovely to use. Furthermore, many developers appear to be more willing to work quickly to get their apps on Windows Phone, having first sated the larger user bases on iOS and Android. As Windows Phone grows, admittedly slowly, this situation will only improve.
Top 10 Windows Phone perks over Android and iOS
We give Microsoft's platform its chance to shine against market-leading rivals
4. Live Tile display
Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile operating system is worlds apart from iOS and Android when it comes to design, with the firm switching out traditional icons with Live Tiles.
These Live Tiles mimic the Metro UI found on Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system, which means businesses using the latest version of the firm’s desktop software can have a seamless experience across PC, tablet and mobile. Users will be able to stop working on their PC, for example, and fire up the identical app on their Windows Phone device.
What’s more, Microsoft’s Live Tiles update with real-time information, so businesses can keep up with stats, emails and notifications at a faster pace than they would be able to on rival mobile operating systems.
3. Management tools
Microsoft has designed Windows Phone to be enterprise and business-friendly from the start, loading it with a variety of advanced mobile-management services.
This trend looks like it will continue with Microsoft's soon-to-be-released Windows Phone 8.1, which is confirmed to feature a number of under-the-hood mobile device management (MDM) upgrades.
The updates include a newly added Line of Business application, certificate-management powers and built-in secure/multipurpose internet mail extension (S/MIME) and virtual private network (VPN) support.
All in all, for business and individuals working in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments, this makes life a lot easier, and safer.
Top 10 Windows Phone perks over Android and iOS
We give Microsoft's platform its chance to shine against market-leading rivals
2. Word, Excel and PowerPoint as standard, now linked with iOS
There has been a big buzz over the past few weeks when Microsoft finally released its Word, Excel and PowerPoint tools for iPad, having made a similar announcement last year for iPhones.
For Windows Phone users, though, this has been a perk of the devices for yonks, as all Windows Phone devices come with these tools from the off, making them ideal for business users who want to access and edit content on the go.
The new Office for iPad app now means that those who own both an Apple iPad and a Windows Phone, for example, can now move between devices and still access their information and work as normal.
1. Cross-platform support with Windows 8.1 tablets and laptops
One way Microsoft is making Windows Phones more appealing to both consumer and enterprise customers is by building on the synergies between Windows Phone and the desktop operating system.
With Windows Phone 8.1, this is being done in several ways. Firstly, Microsoft is converging its app-development model, so that a single tiled Modern UI app should soon be able to run on both Windows tablets and Windows Phone devices.
Secondly, Microsoft is extending its synchronisation across devices to encompass Windows Phone and Windows PCs. This means WiFi access point settings, Internet Explorer tabs and bookmarks, themes, music and videos are available across each device user owns, whether this is a phone, tablet, or PC.