ZDNet run a number of online debates, and their recent look at RIM vs Nokia saw Matthew Miller bat for the Windows Phone devices, as he has done many times before. He also manages to win the public vote once more, while still losing the debate itself. But that's not going to stop Miller stepping up to the plate for Windows Phone.

Even though I keep losing out on these debates supporting the Windows Phone platform, I think it will eventually catch on in a more significant manner. As I wrote a couple weeks ago Microsoft has showed growth since the launch of Windows Phone, even if it is only at about 2% at the moment. They haven’t had very enthusiastic partners until Nokia came onto the scene this year and all indications are that Nokia’s Windows Phones are selling quite well.

My wife has a Nokia Lumia 710 and yesterday when I picked up an HTC One S I asked if she wanted to switch since the One S has a fantastic camera and that is an important feature for her. She told me if it doesn’t have Windows Phone on it then she isn’t interested at all. She finds Windows Phone easy to use, stable, and efficient and has used Android and Symbian in the past.

This is a pretty common story - once people start using Windows Phone in their day to day life, the advantages of the design and interaction model come to the fore. It's getting the message out about these benefits that's the challenge for Microsoft. Once they can start a snowball of consumer opinion on how to use the device, they'll build on their rising market share.