Windows Phone 8: Give It Away Now!

Microsoft (MSFT) is in a difficult position when it comes to the smartphone market. Its Windows Phone 8 operating system clawed its way into third place for global market share last year and was the fastest-growing mobile OS of 2013.

Plus, much of that was stolen from battered BlackBerry(BBRY), not to mention that almost all the Windows smartphones were from a single manufacturer: Nokia (NOK). Ergo, MSFT is going to have a very difficult time clawing out more significant smartphone share, especially when it charges hardware manufacturers for a Windows Phone license in a world in which Google (GOOG) gives Android away for free.

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