MANILA, Philippines -- And so the hemorrhage continues.

Microsoft's Windows-based smartphone operating system continues to lose market share.

This makes Microsoft and those market research firms predicting a leading role for Windows Phone seem increasingly out of touch with smartphone-market realities. I guess there must be a fair number of market analysts sweating and losing sleep over their bold forecasts that have Ballmer's favorite mobile OS running second to Android a few years from now.

Nevertheless, all is not doom and gloom for everybody's favorite target for bashing and which incidentally happened to be the world's largest software company.

If we were to believe J. Gold Associates founder and chief analyst Jack Gold's reading of the smartphone market's royalties tea leaves, then Microsoft stands to profit (immensely, if I may add) from the Android platform's winning and proliferating ways.

In fact, should Microsoft succeed in collecting on all of its patent-infringement claims and licensing demands from manufacturers of Android smartphones — and, surprise, the iPhone — then the software giant would be laughing all the way to the bank with royalties worth billions of dollars.

Compare that with the measly $180 million that Microsoft is likely to earn from the 12 million (overly optimistic, I think) Windows Phone units sold each year.

Do we need to do the math?

No wonder, Microsoft is running with gusto after vendors of Android-flavored smartphones.

Smartphone Grows in Asia

Market research firm Nielsen believes smartphone use will grow dramatically in Asia. While at present only about 20 percent of mobile subscribers use smartphones, almost half of consumers the company bothered to ask said they intend to buy a smartphone.

The key word here is "intend."

Well, I am Asian, and I intend to buy a smartphone, too. But those big-screened, wide-bodied, touchscreen-touting smartphones' US$500 price tags are way too expensive for my taste and wallet. And I believe there are millions of other Asians who think like I do.

But wait, salvation might be just around the corner.

Some lesser known vendors are launching affordable Android smartphones. Take the case of locally based Cherry Mobile's Magnum HD smartphone.

Hmm. Maybe there is still a chance for fiscally challenged consumers to get their hands on a smartphone or two of their own.

Xbox, Windows 8 Rumors

Rumors are aplenty about Microsoft's supposed plans to make Xbox 360 games playable on the company's soon-to-come Windows 8 operating system.

Should enough parts of these rumors turn out to be true, then there must be hordes of PC gamers about to be insanely happy. Xbox 360 games are some of the bestselling game titles in the market, after all.

Equally persistent rumors about Microsoft's plan to release a Kinect system for PCs make this even more exciting than it already is.

That's all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.