Microsoft drop the 7 for Windows Phone ads. Good thinking

I've never understood why Microsoft insisted on referring to their new mobile platform as Windows Phone 7, which led to some very confusing mobile names. Try saying the Windows Phone 7 HTC HD7. I also wondered what would happen come the next phase of devices. Would they stick with Windows Phone 7? Wouldn't that make people think the platform wasn't being updated? What was so bad about Windows Phone?

Anyway, it turns out that their marketing gurus were probably thinking the same thing as the new adverts for the platform have dropped the 7. Good thinking Microsoft. People don't need to be confused.

Nielsen stats show Android still fastest growing mobile platform, with the youngest audience

The latest stats from Nielsen show that Android's growth wasn't dented release of the iPhone 4. In fact, Apple's new device simply helped iOS not lose share.

Blackberry 30%
Apple 28%
Android 19%

Given the strengths of the Android and iOS mobile platforms, I can see both living comfortably with 30% + share of the smartphone market. It will be interesting watching how Windows Phone performs over the next 6 months. Given Microsoft's huge marketing budget, will it be able to achieve the kind of spectacular growth that Apple and Google have achieved?

Android's audience is younger
Those same Nielsen stats also show that the Android platform has a younger audience than its competitors. This is most likely the result of Google's open approach. That much maligned fragmentation allows for cheaper Android device options and more affordable allows you to reach a younger demographic.

Source: Mashable