Unable to win over mobile consumers, Microsoft tries winning in court

Microsoft-Mobile-CourtIt’s the tech world’s equivalent of a one-two punch, albeit one thrown by a fighter who’s somewhat off-balance. As Microsoft prepares to launch its Windows Phone 7 software on October 11, it’s also launched a patent infringement lawsuit against Motorola’s Android-based smartphones. We’re sure it’s entirely coincidental that Motorola has given up developing smartphone products on platforms other than Google’s Android.

Whatever the outcome of this litigation, it’s unlikely to alter the fortunes of Microsoft’s mobile division, which currently ranks fourth in the smartphone operating system rankings, behind Research In Motion, Apple and the aforementioned Google. While Windows Phone 7 is said to be a huge improvement over previous Microsoft efforts, it doesn’t appear to contain anything its competitors aren’t already offering, and thus analysts are skeptical on whether such a ‘me too’ product will do anything to boost Microsoft’s 12% (and shrinking) share of the mobile marketplace. Honestly, if those Microsoft boys really want to pursue a lost cause, how about trying to figure out a way to help the Seahawks win a road game?