Since iOS 7 was released in September, device owners in the Apple ecosystem have rushed to upgrade to the new mobile operating system at an unprecedented pace.
But no all sectors are running to iOS 7 at the same rate of speed.
ABI Research’s newest report, “iOS 7 and Windows Phone 8 for Enterprise,” examines how the iOS 7 software update will impact enterprise adoption of iPhones, and how current and future iterations of Windows Phone can accelerate business adoption of Microsoft’s mobility platform.
“There was a lot of excitement with the release of iOS 7, especially in the enterprise where Apple included features enterprises were longing for,” says Senior analyst Jason McNicol. “Some of those features, however, were not terribly innovative when compared to the services offered by the EMM/MDM market, while other enhancements have relatively limited functionality. Despite the positive market buzz, iOS7 enterprise features are unlikely to increase its enterprise presence. Plenty of market opportunity remains, especially for a company like Microsoft.”
ABI Research has forecast that Apple iPhone subscribers will maintain 18% market penetration for the foreseeable future, whereas Microsoft should see market penetration increase to 6% by 2018.
“When looking at adoption trends in specific regions, we see areas where Windows Phone stands to gain significantly,” McNicol adds. “For example, Windows Phone consumer adoption has been very strong in Europe. As demonstrated by the Apple and Android platforms, a growing base of consumers is a key driver for expansion into the enterprise.”
