Windows Phone finally gaining traction

What’s this?  A report from Kantar WorldPanel says that Windows Phone is actually starting to increase its market share? After about a year and a half of struggling to lure customers away from competing systems like Android, iOS, and BlackBerry, Microsoft’s OS is enjoying a modest surge in popularity so far in 2012.

Having a stable of snazzy new phones like the Nokia Lumia line-up to carry the flag has helped (especially that free Lumia 900), as has the steady growth of the Windows Phone Marketplace. Gains of about 4% were posted in the U.S., U.K., France, and Italy. In Germany, the news was even better for Microsoft: Windows Phone share has doubled to 6%. Climbing share is good news for existing Windows Phone users, as it should lead to even more developers taking an interest in the platform. As they do, we’ll see the app gap between the platforms narrow.

There’s a steep hill to climb before Android and iOS are within  striking distance, obviously. Android showed even more impressive growth, especially in Spain, where Google’s OS now commands nearly three quarters of the market. In Germany, Android use has doubled in the last twelve months and now sits at about 60%.

If Windows Phone and Android are making gains, that means someone is paying the price. As usual, RIM’s name is mentioned. The BlackBerry maker’s share has diminished to just 3% in the U.S., just a third of what it was last year at this time. Symbian, too, has been hit hard , largely because of Nokia’s laser-like focus on their partnership with Microsoft.

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