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Microsoft Killing Off Windows Phone Brand Name In Favor of Just Windows

DroidJason1 writes Microsoft is killing off the "Windows Phone" name in favor of Windows. The company also plans to drop the "Nokia" name from handsets in favor of just "Lumia." These details were revealed in a leaked memo. We've already begun seeing these changes in recent advertisements from Microsoft and it makes perfect sense seeing as how Microsoft is shifting towards one operating system to rule them all.

46 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 3, Funny

    In favor of "Blatant Attempt at Ripping-Off the Apple Store" Not as catchy, but accurate

    1. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 5, Funny

      Microsoft has been killing off the Windows Phone brand name for years now -- by releasing Windows Phones.

    2. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by praxis · · Score: 2

      Because selling software in an online market place is clearly all invented by Apple

      It wasn't, but I'm pretty sure that point is irrelevant as the OP meant the glass-and-steel Apple stores.

    3. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, like the vast majority of smart phone users.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    4. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by 0123456 · · Score: 2

      Spoken like someone who's never used one.

      One of my girlfriend's friends had a Windows Phone. As soon as the contract was up, she replaced it with Android.

      I've never seen another one out in the wild, so I'm guessing that's why no-one else has never used one.

    5. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by praxis · · Score: 2

      or = for

      Therefore:
      Well I'm Not Doing Office Work Suckers = WINDOWS

      Ah! Thank you. That's cute but silly.

    6. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by exomondo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The reality is that Windows Phone has the same problem as desktop Linux. It is actually quite a good operating system and works really well with a broad set of features but it was late to the game and you cannot disrupt an established market without a disruptive product.

      Sure people could switch to it but why would they? It - like desktop Linux - lacks some killer feature, some really compelling and disruptive element that would convince people to switch. For this reason I see it - again like desktop Linux - remaining a niche product used by a relatively small band of loyal followers and/or becoming popular in the developing market. But does that really matter? So long as that share is enough to sustain it then it will continue and the more competition we have the better.

    7. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by rtb61 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In this case it was all pre-planned. Basically the whole batshit crazy idea, lets turn the computer desktop into a phone interface to force users who don't want it to get used to the windows phone interface and buy it like mindless lemmings.

      Apparently that whole batshit crazy plan backfired and did more damage to windows on the desktop than it ever did to force acceptance of windows on a phone.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    8. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by newsdee · · Score: 2

      I don't think "Windows Phone 8.1" and "Windows 8.1" are really the same though? If they truly released the full OS on a phone it would be fantastic, but in my old experience from the Windows CE days, you get a watered down version of an OS which does not truly compare. So it feels misleading that they call it the same. Now I could be wrong and maybe they've managed to bring some compatibility, which would definitely be interesting.

    9. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by ozmanjusri · · Score: 2

      I don't doubt you,

      I doubt everyone, so I checked.

      OP and the other posters are wrong. The stone is not granite, it's sandstone, and was chosen for it's color and consistency, not it's wear capabilities.

      Now it’s revealed that the process of creating the stone floor tiles and large wall slabs falls to the Il Casone quarry, formed in 1962 by four stonemason families with generations of experience in creating subtle beauty from rough rock. The company’s quarry is north of Florence in the small town of Firenzuola, in the heart of a geologic region of sandstone called Pietra Serena. The blue-gray color of the stone, its texture and tone all contribute to the overall look of the finished Apple store.

      http://www.ifoapplestore.com/2...

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    10. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 2

      If your most recent experience is 'the Windows CE days' you really aren't entitled to an opinion. I have a Windows 8.1 tablet, they're available for no more than a high end Android tablet now, and with a real x86 processor in them so they're not one of those stunted Windows RT things. It's really nice as long as you can stay in Metro. I wish there were more Metro apps, but for what most people do with a tablet the platform is well covered.

      I also have a recent 10" Android tablet and an older 7". The thing I'll probably never buy new again is an iOS device. My iPod Touches kept falling 'obsolete' soon after I bought them. They also failed much earlier than anything I've had since.

    11. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by Barsteward · · Score: 2

      The Lumias look like they are a "Toys R Us" product designed for children

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
    12. Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 2

      Has someone tried to verify the original story and check that Windows Phones are a real product? If they were actually being sold I'm pretty sure I'd have seen someone using one by now.

  2. Good decision? by dontbemad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It feels like they're trying to beat Apple to the punch with this huge multi-platform OS merge, but I can't imagine that anyone will really enjoy this. It has been clear that one of the bigger upsets in recent history involving Windows was the "seamless merging" of a tablet and desktop OS experience, so why would they continue this obviously damaging trend?

    1. Re:Good decision? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 3, Interesting

      No, this is just Microsoft's Marketing Move of The Month. They change marketing strategies faster than Miley Cyrus changes clothes.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:Good decision? by KiloByte · · Score: 2

      You mean, they're usually without a real strategy?

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    3. Re:Good decision? by Threni · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'd love it if Linux was something Windows was trying to catch up with, but I'm afraid it's not even a grey cloud on the horizon as far as microsoft is concerned. If only it WAS one OS, supported by everyone from Dell to Oracle, it would wipe the floor with windows, but as long as there are 10 windows managers and 2000 distributions it'll never, ever happen.

  3. Brilliant! by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since there's so much confusion about the differences between RT, Phone, and desktop versions of our OS, let's just call them all by the same name. That will simplify things. Worked for Admiral General Aladeen.

    1. Re:Brilliant! by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can't think of a thing microsoft has done in the past few years that aren't one of these:
      A. Restructuring their corporation
      B. Rebranding an existing product(so many times)
      C. Ripping off another company's consumer tech while being years too late to the party.

    2. Re:Brilliant! by steelfood · · Score: 2

      I can:

      D. Making overpriced acquisitions that go nowhere, and then writing the purchase off as a loss.
      E. Squandering potential opportunities via mismanagement and half-assed commitment.
      F. Spending a ton of money on marketing to make people think their shit is actually gold.

      --
      "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
  4. Reduce name, Increase confusion by klek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As if MSware were not obfuscated and confusing enough. Now people won't know if you are talking about a PC with Windows installed, or your WinPho.

    On the other hand, WindowsPhones will never get significant enough market share to really be that relevant to most of us techies, so it prolly won't matter.

  5. Unified Kernel by GeoffSmith1981 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Makes sense considering the plan to unify the kernel and APIs.

    1. Re:Unified Kernel by ericloewe · · Score: 2

      The kernel IS unified. They're literally using the same kernel across all devices since Windows 8 and equivalents. APIs are already optionally unified.

      The real last step is getting the WinRT APIs and environments up to snuff so they can be seamlessly used alongside Win32 applications on the desktop. That and providing incentives for applications to be written to universal standards, instead of just for tablet or phone (or desktop, once store apps become viable on the desktop).

  6. Re:Too late ... by DaHat · · Score: 2

    I'm sure Blackberry used to say the same about the various upstarts that tried to dethrown them... and we know how well that worked out.

  7. What a great move! by gamorck · · Score: 2

    ...because Windows is such a well loved brand!

    --
    I love idealists not because I am one, but because they make life bearable for pragmatists such as myself.
  8. Abject brand mismanagement by mbkennel · · Score: 5, Insightful


    Microsoft has not ever understood one thing.

    People ***HATE*** "Windows". Windows is associated with work, pain, crazy difficulties, nerds and viruses. The brand name has negative value.

    So what does Microsoft do? They double and triple down on fucking *Windows*. They had the opportunity with the Metro to finally make people see Microsoft as going beyond Windows. "No this isn't Windows any more, it's not supposed to be Windows, and that's OK. We're more than Windows, so try it on its own terms".

    And now with phones they kill the one name, Nokia, which people did have a good association with, in favor of a nothingburger which might as well be a suppository name.

    1. Re:Abject brand mismanagement by asmkm22 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I like Windows. (I also happen to like Linux). My clients all prefer Windows when it comes to PC's, except for a select few who are Apple fans. Most people I deal with, though (200-300), have no problem with it. I know it used to be trendy to hate microsoft and all that, but these days it seems very few people really care about brand identity, other than the REALLY hardcore fans.

    2. Re:Abject brand mismanagement by c · · Score: 2

      People ***HATE*** "Windows". Windows is associated with work, pain, crazy difficulties, nerds and viruses. The brand name has negative value.

      True. But it still gets more respect than "Windows Phone".

      --
      Log in or piss off.
    3. Re:Abject brand mismanagement by DogDude · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Windows is associated with work, pain, crazy difficulties, nerds and viruses.

      Huh? Most people I know associate Windows with easy and simple. Crazy difficulties and nerds is called "Linux".

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    4. Re:Abject brand mismanagement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      People ***HATE*** "Windows". Windows is associated with work, pain, crazy difficulties, nerds and viruses. The brand name has negative value.

      If you ignore half a billion relatively satisfied Windows 7 users, sure.

    5. Re:Abject brand mismanagement by Man+On+Pink+Corner · · Score: 2

      That was certainly Steve Ballmer's approach.

    6. Re:Abject brand mismanagement by HalAtWork · · Score: 3, Informative

      Default Linux installs just work, Windows needs a lot of drivers, patching & reboots, and helper apps, to even be useful.

  9. Miley puts ON clothes? by raymorris · · Score: 4, Funny

    Miley CHANGES clothes? I thought she just took them off.

  10. Free branding advice for MSFT: by Rob_Bryerton · · Score: 2

    Free branding advice for MSFT; a variation on the classic formula:

    1. Think of a brand name.
    2. Does it contain the word "Windows"? If so, throw it away and go to step 1.
    3. Does it contain the word "Microsoft"? If so, throw it away and go to step 1.
    4. ???
    5. Profit

    1. Re:Free branding advice for MSFT: by ZombieBraintrust · · Score: 2

      Office Phone OS

  11. A better idea... by Rob_Bryerton · · Score: 2

    Microsoft is killing off the "Windows Phone" name in favor of Windows.

    I think this version would be more appealing:

    Microsoft is killing off the "Windows Phone" name in favor of Phone.

  12. I switched to Android when the new OS was released by Mr_Wisenheimer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The old Windows CE based OS's were the most open devices on the market, but with the new OS, Microsoft has gone the Apple route, which is a shame.

    The new Windows Phones are very friendly to the unsophisticated consumer, perhaps even more so than the iPhone, but they were so slow to react to the iPhone and lost so much market share that I'm not sure the product will ever be the success it once was.

    That said, it is smart to integrate Windows RT and Windows Phone.

    Their biggest challenge is to convince developers to actually release for this OS. They are far behind since deciding to kill off open development and switch to the iOS model of software sales.

  13. Microsoft vs Apple by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Microsoft decides that it's in their best interest for all customers to use identical UIs, so they make Metro the standard interface on phones, video game systems, tablets, desktops, and servers. Apple decides that it's in their customers' best interest for products to have similar but individualized UIs, so they create tailored interfaces for tiny, small, and large displays.

    That, in a nutshell, is the difference between the two companies (and why Apple is eating Microsoft's lunch in every category where they directly compete).

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  14. Re:I don't know what made me come here by neoritter · · Score: 2

    It's like wading through a hipster party. "Windoooowss baaaaddd! HAR HAR!!!"

  15. Re:Yup. That sounds perfect. by BLToday · · Score: 2

    Probably it's because Microsoft's issue is their confusing message. Do you really expect normal people to understand that Windows on a phone won't be available to run Windows application for desktop? To a normal person "Windows" is "Windows".

  16. Doesnt matter what they call it now... by rjejr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Next week we'll all be running Microsoft Minecraft on our Minecraft Phones and using Minecraft Office.

  17. I've got a great idea by viperidaenz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let's buy a brand, then phase out the name of the brand.
    What could go wrong?

  18. Re:Oversimplification vs. overcomplication by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

    I'll believe it when I actually see it. What I really expect to see is the following - six different products named like this:

    - Windows
    - Windows
    - Windows
    - Windows
    - Windows
    - Windows

    But "Windows" only lets you run three programs at once. If you want more, you'll need to buy an upgrade to "Windows" - but that won't join an AD domain. Therefore office workers will want to purchase Windows, which can participate in AD. However if you want all the bells and whistles, the one you'll want to buy is Windows.

    That's all clear, right?

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  19. Re: Too late ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nokia had the first smartphone: the Nokia Communicator in 1996. The first of Microsoft's own phones were running Windows Mobile 2002, so were at least 6 years later.

    Nobody cares who had the first smartphone, the point he is making is that Microsoft had the first widely popular smartphone platform and that is correct, then Blackberry took over, then Apple took over that and now Android has taken over Apple.

    (and yes before you get all excited and bent out of shape I know from your posting history that you're a huge apple fan and yes apple does still have appreciable market share, yes they have the most popular single device and yes they are profitable the point is simply that their platform is not the most popular)

  20. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  21. Windows the phone or OS? by ayesnymous · · Score: 2

    "Microsoft is killing off the "Windows Phone" name in favor of Windows." So when someone says Windows, you won't know if they are referring to the phone or the OS?