After stagnate prolixity among folks worldwide, Microsoft is presently focusing to lure a large masses in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). To achieve the goal, the company has entered in to the agreement with Kuwait- based telecommunications company—Zain. The company dealt with the agreement with Zain in Barcelona, during Mobile World congress. Zain will launch the Windows phone line up of devices to its MENA customers in countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and South Sudan.
Microsoft Mobility Director—Gustavo Fuchs—said, “The partnership with local mobile phone operators will help drive the appetite of consumers in the region. We are pleased to cement our long-term partnership with Zain, a company that has been with us since the first version of Windows Mobile was released, and has now embraced Windows Phone as a part of its portfolio.”
Zain’s CEO is highly satisfied with the deal, and said, it’s just the beginning of the relationship with one of the world’s leading technology company. The CEO is highly relying on the company’s technology and expects to do outstanding in upcoming years.
Microsoft is expecting to have 38% of the growth in the “MENA” region by the end of 2012. At MWC, Microsoft has done numbers of announcement including the Windows Phone-based Nokia Lumia 610 with lower specification and Windows Phone version integrated with Skype.
However, last year, Microsoft with collaboration of Nokia launched its Windows phone based Smartphone “Lumia” worldwide across 31 countries. Folks more preferred iOS and Android mobile OS rather than Windows Phone last year. Despite of this, the company succeeded to clinch just 1.5% of total market in Q3 last year worldwide, down from 2.7% in same quarter a year ago. Apparently, Nokia’s influence in the Indian market somewhat helped Microsoft, but, users were more preferred Nokia’s Symbian OS rather than Windows Phone in the country.
Presently, Middle East and North Africa is considered as one of the rising markets for Smartphone. Definitely, with the amalgamation with the local manufacturer-Zaina—the company will have an opportunity to establish its business in the specific regions. However, in last month, the company’s market share soared from 0.29% to 0.41%–a growth of 41.38%. There’s still a room for Microsoft, and the company’s market strategy to extend its business in such markets might be helpful to augment its market share.
