I think it’s funny how utterly poorly Microsoft does in almost any area they stick their toes into that is not able to leverage their desktop monopoly. Isn’t this their third time to try phones? Why would anyone buy a windows phone?
In a nutshell: Windows and Office are all they have. Everything else they have ultimately depends completely on those two virtual monopolies. Windows Phone had to stand on its own, and couldn't, in the face of Android and iPhone.
> Why would anyone buy a windows phone?
Actually, the Windows Phone design itself was quite good overall, and had some interesting features of its own.
As I see it the problem was, Microsoft didn't have a clue how to support it in a modern mobile market, unless they could somehow make it "the only phone for Windows users, because it uses Windows". But they were too late -- that train had left the station -- Windows users had figured out they could use an iPhone or Android just fine.