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.

Comments

KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too

[l0ungeb0y]

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

Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too

[NoNonAlphaCharsHere]

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

Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too

[MightyMartian]

Yes, like the vast majority of smart phone users.

Re:KIlling off the Microsoft Store Name Too

[rtb61]

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.

Good decision?

[dontbemad]

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?

Re:Good decision?

[ColdWetDog]

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

Brilliant!

[jtownatpunk.net]

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.

Re:Brilliant!

[i kan reed]

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.

Reduce name, Increase confusion

[klek]

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.

Abject brand mismanagement

[mbkennel]

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.

Re:Abject brand mismanagement

[asmkm22]

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.

Re:Abject brand mismanagement

[DogDude]

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".

Re:Abject brand mismanagement

[HalAtWork]

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

Miley puts ON clothes?

[raymorris]

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

Microsoft vs Apple

[Just Some Guy]

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).

Doesnt matter what they call it now...

[rjejr]

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

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion