Can Microsoft and Google take on iPhone 5 with their new Launches?

iPhone 5 Release Causing Microsoft and Google Headache

While Apple fans are eagerly waiting for the release of the iPhone 5, Microsoft and Google, two of their biggest rivals, scrambled to release their new Smartphones just one week before the latest Apple Smartphone. Of course we cannot predict whether this strategy will help Apple’s competitors reap rewards or not, for that we have to bide our time till the new iPhone makes its appearance on the market. But there are some Industry analysts who feel that this is real bad timing, releasing any phone anytime near the iPhone’s release, they say, is a tactic doomed to fail. The main reason, according to them is that Nokia and Motorola have lost significant base and their brands have sharply deteriorated.

According to Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, the Lumia 820 and 920 are highly innovative and are a fresh faced alternative to the anonymous monochromatic Smartphones currently available in the market. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was also present at the launch in the Big Apple, specific time frames for the release in different markets, was not announced though.

Motorola from Google released not one, not two, but three new Smartphones: RAZR M, RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD. The RAZR M has a smaller screen, the RAZR HD retains its bulletproof Kevlar rear, is slimmer, and upgradable to Jelly Bean. The MAXX has a 4.7 inch AMOLED HD screen, an 8 MP camera and enhanced battery life at 21 hours of talk time. Both HD and MAXX are powered by 1.5 GHZ dual core Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm. Everyone is pretty familiar with the cool Android features like face and voice locking options for the phone, greater accessibility for the visually impaired, voice recognition and more.

These phones were pretty good buys even in their initial entries, and Motorola seem to have polished them up just a wee bit more. This is also the first time Motorola has rolled out new models since it was bought by Google a year ago. Powered by Android, they will be available on the Verizon Wireless Network.

It is a fact that Windows Phone 8, the platform for the Lumia and the Jelly Bean Android update are highly innovative, in fact they are probably a few steps ahead of Apple in that regard as well.

Here are some of the snazzy new features of Windows Phone 8:

• Camera plug ins that include filters for photo editing, panoramic lens to combine several pictures into one
• NFC capability for cashless transactions
• Micro SD card support for that extra storage capacity
• Maps data and detailed visual navigation
• Higher screen resolution
• Ability to take screen shots
• Auto integration of media files with SkyDrive
• Multitasking: stream music and click a picture simultaneously

But iFans who are absolutely devoted to their iDevices may not be moved even a little by these facts. Most of them are just waiting for the new iPhone so they can have the latest Apple Smartphone, especially with the tech grape vine hinting that Apple has ‘fixed’ most of the troublesome issues that plagued the 4S, like the battery drain and shutter freezing. They are probably not even bothered that other companies are coming with cool new devices.

Apple has been sending teaser emails and texts hinting at the impending launch of the latest iteration of their iconic Smartphone.

As such both Microsoft and Google have their task cut out for them. We are just a week away from the unveiling of the new iPhone 5. I guess we will have our answers pretty soon!