WindowsForDevices has posted an interesting article comparing the number of iPhones and Windows Mobile devices sold in Q1 2008, and the numbers prove Windows Mobile the winner by a mile. Windows Mobile, with approximately 4.5 million units sold in Q1, clearly beat the iPhone, which sold 1.7 million. In fact, WinMo sales grew by a larger number in Q1 2008 over 2007’s first quarter (selling about 1.8 million more units) than the total number of iPhones sold between January and March ‘08. 

This is certainly interesting, given the relentless iPhone hype we’ve seen since the handheld was announced in early 2007.  Of course, one must consider that all major wireless service providers have at least one Windows Mobile offering, while the iPhone has been limited to a dedicated carrier wherever it’s sold.  And there are other considerations which have benefited WinMo including third-party software support, Exchange syncing, hardware keyboards, lower prices, etc. 

But most of these advantages have been rendered obsolete with this morning’s release of the iPhone 3G, and Apple is moving quickly to address each disadvantage of its hatchling phone when compared to Windows Mobile, RIM and Palm.  Windows Mobile still has advantages over the iPhone, but they aren’t significant enough to save Windows Mobile on a large scale.  Microsoft must deliver wide, sweeping changes to the way the OS looks, works and interoperates with the Cloud in order to survive the iPhone.

Microsoft can breathe a sigh of relief for now, but it had better not last long.  Windows Mobile 7, it’s game time.