According to the latest smartphone market report from Kantar, Windows Phone, unsurprisingly, continued its decline in both the U.S. and Europe in the third quarter of 2016. Specifically, Kantar's numbers show that Windows Phone's sales share dipped to 1.9% in the third quarter of 2016, down 2% from its 3.9% share during the same period a year ago. Likewise, Windows Phone dropped 5.6% to a 3.8% share from 9.4% during the same period a year ago.

Kantar Q3 2016 numbers

Interestingly, the European countries that saw the biggest drops were France and Italy, which both saw Windows Phone's percentage share drop by over 7% each. The Chinese and Japanese markets, meanwhile, remain relatively stagnant, with Windows Phone holding onto 3.0% of the sales in China while dropping for 0.5% to 0% compared to the same period a year ago.

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Though things look grim for Microsoft's mobile propositions, particularly as Microsoft is likely ending sales of Lumia devices in December. Microsoft has made clear that it is looking forward to the next "paradigm shift" — something that may involve the rumored Surface Phone (or whatever it may be called).

In any case, be sure to check out Kantar's full report for more, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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