Microsoft pushes into a crowded mobile market

Microsoft (MSFT) has always had aspirations to be one of the premier providers of mobile software. It has been trying to push into the business for years, without much success.

The incumbent Symbian software has held its own. More recently, Apple (AAPL) has entered the field. So has Google (GOOG), with its Android platform. Several other mobile operating systems are also trying to stake claims on the business.