Microsoft Gives Out 90,000 Free Phones to Staff
Free phones for all 95,000 Microsoft employees.
Last week Microsoft announced that it would be sending out preview Windows Phone 7 devices to developers this week. However, Redmond also warned that they had a very limited supply. Could that be because they're giving away 90,000 Windows Phone 7 cell phones, one to each and every Microsoft employee?
Mary Jo Foley yesterday retweeted a message from a Microsoft employee who was gushing about getting a fancy new phone. The original message came from Charl Lee-Pearce, Senior Marketing Manager for Emerging Media at Microsoft.
Giving every employee a WP7 device is a great way to speed up the bug squashing process. With so many Softies using WP7 and reporting back to base, it's likely the majority of bugs will be ironed out before the OS launches publicly in the fall.
Now, let's just hope no one gets drunk and loses it in a bar.
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Fine print reads: "Employee must immediately dispose any non windows phones such as Apple iPhone."
This just in, 90,000 Win 7 phones just hit e-Bay.
Meh, if someone loses it in a bar they should get a bonus for all the free advertising the phone will get.
wow! sure is a good way of testing a device. real-world use by real people.
too bad for the thousands laid off last week.
"Now, let's just hope no one gets drunk and loses it in a bar."
Somehow I don't think they would care as much as apple...
wow! sure is a good way of testing a device. real-world use by real people.too bad for the thousands laid off last week.
I think they just got laid off because they didn't have enough phones
a good gesture.
This is a smart move on MS's part.
90,000 beta testers! WOOT!
Good way to boost service providers profits too.
hmm.... does that mean MS can claim that I have "sold" more than 90,000 WP7 even before the launch date?..
Wondering does the "every single MS employeee" mean every MS employee in the US or on the earth?...
Microsoft's last quarter revenue posted 15.3 Billion. That is just a pocket change for 90,000 phone. I'm pretty sure Microsoft pays for more for employee's wireless phone bill monthly. Do you see Apple give out phone's to their employess? no, a few tester got fired instead.
I don't work for Microsoft... but I will take one too. I will even report any bugs found.. Beta testers?
I'm with craig ^
I wish I was one of those employees. Oh well, gonna have to wait till theyre released to buy one
Bill Gates - I would have stayed for a free phone.
What if these phones suck?
I wish I worked for Microsoft even more now.
Smart move.
Kudos Microsoft
They definitely learned from Windows 7. I hope they added more tech to WP7 like natal for free.
Microsoft just following google. When google put their nexus one phone they give it out to all their employees.
I'm curious to see how Microsoft attempts to merge the mobile business model with the consumer social networking all into one platform. RIM is trying this a little more with 6.0, but they don't want to lose their business clients that make up the majority of their profits. I don't think Microsoft has anything to lose. Let the reviews roll in
.
Prob gave out all those ****** Kin phones that no one else wanted.
I don't work for Microsoft... but I will take one too. I will even report any bugs found.. Beta testers?
If you're using Windows OS on your peecee, you are already an MS beta tester. lol.
Good gesture. I'd like to try out that win7 mobile phone. I have an old windows mobile sitting here it is rather nice. touch screen and keyboard on it.
It would be funny if they were Kin's.
Anyone spot the differenece? Apple employees buy their own. iPhone that is.
clever.. bill gates have 90.000 free beta testers..
well MS had to find a way to get rid of all those unsold kin's somehow
"
too bad for the thousands laid off last week."
90,000 phones x $100 = a lot of peoples salary
Man, this is like Windows 7 beta test, and a great idea!