Now that the holiday season has come and gone, of all the holiday advertising for this year’s best gift is being replaced by news about what item did the best as far as sales are concerned. Gadgets have certainly earned their place on many wishlists, however Windows Phone 7 hardly made the mark this year.

Why the letdown for Microsoft (News - Alert)?

According to ExtremeTech, Windows Phone 7 failed to sell up this season due to poor marketing and an even worse launch. That, and Android (News - Alert) seems to be far superior.

Ex-Microsoft exec Charlie Kindel blames carriers and phone makers for Microsoft's failure. He says carriers like how open Android is, so they can do what they want, so Android blew right over Microsoft, leaving it in the dust. He also thinks phone makers hate having to deal with Microsoft's specific hardware guidelines. 

"Thus both of those sides of the market are reluctant. Especially the carriers, but also the device manufacturers. Remember that end users just do what they are told (by advertising and RSPs [salespeople]). Carriers own the marketing money and spend billions a year," he wrote.

The carriers and manufacturers will make and sell Windows phones, possibly because they're afraid of becoming too beholden to Google and Apple (News - Alert), but it seems they don't relish the devices or the platform much.

Not everyone agrees with Kindel, however.

“But the truth is it is the consumers who are driving the success of Android, and it remains because they are cheap iPhone (News - Alert) clones,” writes Surur over at Windows Phone Tech Site.

Essentially, it comes down to Microsoft failing to do what Android did, which is offer up a cheapened version of the popular iOS device, at least that is what Surur is saying. 

Windows Phone 7 also fails to provide a functioning carrier. Verizon (News - Alert) is too busy pushing the many Android selections and its iPhone offerings, whereas the Windows device is but a little nothing – sitting there, alone, barely being acknowledged on the shelves.

The device also lacks features and apps, both of which are an absolute must for the survival of any smartphone.

With 2012 just around the corner, one can only speculate which device will reign supreme. Given the lackluster reviews, poor marketing and obvious lack of features, it is only safe to assume Windows Phone 7 will not be among the top five unless Microsoft has some well-needed tricks up its sleeves.