Windows Phone has always had a very intuitive and fluid UI, one which is less susceptible to fragmentation. However, handset OEMs have never seen it that way. When Nokia entered into its partnership with Microsoft for Windows Phone, software customizations were one of the prerequisites. The situation is much worse than it seems to be as the DigiTimes is reporting that OEMs have urged Microsoft to allow more leeway in the customization of the Metro UI of Windows Phone 8. Also Read - Nokia 3.4 at Rs 11,999: A look at its competition in the budget smartphone segment
Apparently OEMs believe that hardware differentiation is not enough, and hence they are making calls for a differentiated software experience, which will most definitely kill the timely OS updates, if allowed. Apart from this, the OEMs claim Microsoft cannot match Android and iOS in terms of apps so they are demanding that Microsoft unshackle the barriers for Windows Phone which will result in a custom differentiated Windows Phone experience. Or in other words, they want Windows Phone to tread Android’s steps. Also Read - Nokia 3.4 review: Pretty design but disappointing elsewhere
We will beg to differ in this case as it’s not the software experience that needs to be sorted but the app ecosystem alongside the hardware requirements. Right now, only Nokia is making premium Windows Phone hardware, a situation that has to change fast if the OS wants to succeed because software wise it is more less sort with only a few loose ends being there, and with Windows 8 coming up, the unified Metro interface will work in Microsoft’s favor as it will provide an integrated solution common between phones, PCs and tablets. Also Read - Nokia 3.4 in pictures: Nordic design, clean Android One experience, and more at Rs 11,999