MANILA, Philippines -- This early, some IT market analysts are concluding that the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system is the latest in the software giant's growing list of failures.

But the most brutal (some would say prejudiced) piece proclaiming Microsoft's failure in the smartphone market would be Don Reisinger's article, published on August 8, 2011, on the eweek.com Web site.

Reisinger claims that there are at least 10 reasons why Windows Phone 7, including its Mango update, is a failed venture in the mobile phone market. The reasons he cites include plummeting sales. ComScore's latest market research shows WP7's already minuscule market share went down 38 percent. While Microsoft thinks WP7 sales can recover, Reisinger does not believe they would.

He also claims that based on ComScore's market data, consumers do not care about Windows Phone 7. Consumers are happy with their Android- or iOS-based smartphones. Very much. So, what does it make of Nokia's embrace of WP7?

Nokia does not matter at all, according to Reisinger who seems to imply that two entities that do not matter do not make one that does. Hmm, it is actually logical.

For all we know, he could be right. Microsoft's latest mobile venture is doomed. Microsoft, led by its CEO Steve Ballmer, has to do a reprise of its Kin mobile misfire.

But then again, Microsoft might be able to pull it off a few months from now.

No one knows what the software giant might pull out of its magic hat. Although with each day that passes by without the Redmond company coming out with something, anything, that can reverse its mobile woes, Reisinger looks more and more like a genius.

Nokia Goes Pure WP7

Nokia, meanwhile, plans to focus its US business fully on the Windows Phone 7, abandoning its Symbian-based smartphones and feature phones.

Media reports indicate that the Finnish handset manufacturer plans to bet everything on its WP7 move. The company believes that Microsoft's mobile OS will reverse its market share worries, and begin grabbing back some from its rivals.

Also, Nokia plans to launch a marketing campaign in the US for its WP7 smartphones. Now, that is either an astute market move, or a last-money-never-loses gamble.

We will know in a few months.

No Vita Christmas

Santa Claus regrets to inform Sony portable gaming fans that they will not have a merry Christmas. Sony's next-generation portable gaming console, the PlayStation Vita, will not be available in the US and Europe this Christmas shopping season.

This will clearly hurt Sony's sales performance for the holiday season, the most important part of the year for marketers. But the Japanese consumer electronics giant chose that over launching the console without enough game software titles.

Hmm. Short-term pain, long-term gains maybe for Sony? It might turn out yet to be a smart move.

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