LG: "no more Windows Phones" - decides to focus its energy on Android

[xune]

LG and Windows Phone Are on a Break
BY LESLIE HORN APR 30, 2012 12:06 PM

LG is putting the breaks on new Windows Phone devices in order to focus most of its energy on Android. It's quite the shift from just three years ago, when LG made a huge verbal commitment to the platform, promising 26 phones by 2012.

But Windows Phone just hasn't caught on with consumers.
Although well regarded by many industry observers and critics, Windows Phone has been flagging with many developers being wary of investing in the OS, which is creating something of a Catch-22 situation. There are few decent apps for the OS which means it is less attractive to consumers ? which means there will be fewer decent apps made. Things are improving on that score, but not fast enough for LG, it seems.

As we?ve previously observed, if Samsung was to quit Windows Phone it could paradoxically harm Nokia by reducing the mindshare that the OS can claim. LG dropping out isn?t quite on the same scale, but it certainly won?t help. Microsoft?s lost a Windows Phone partner before ? Dell effectively pulled out after the Venue Pro?s stuttered launch ? but not a top tier one like LG. If Nokia, HTC and Samsung start to feel the pinch too, can Microsoft?s mobile OS survive?

LG said the total number of the devices it has sold "is not a meaningful figure." Though it will continue R&D, it has no devices planned in the immediate future.

However, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has a visit to Korea planned for May, where he'll talk to OEMs, including LG. But that might not be enough to reverse the decision. [Korea Herald via WPCentral via PhoneArena]

http://gizmodo.com/5906316/lg-and-windows-phone-are-on-a-break

[Radiation]

Wow, this is a huge blow to WP. My guess is that there's just no incentive for LG to spend any time at all developing for the OS especially given the way MS and Nokia have become BFFs. Who wants to play 2nd fiddle to that?