Some interesting news came out of Microsoft’s Global Exchange Conference (MGX) yesterday, the Redmond company is to give each one of its 88,000 employees a Windows Phone 7 handset, a sure way boost the profile of the OS and the associated handsets.
Neowin got the scoop, pointing readers to a specific Twitter search for the conferences’ official hashtag. Serveral Microsoft employees have been tweeting their delight at the announcement:
Gizmodo managed to snag a copy of an internal email from Andy Lees, Senior Vice President of Mobile notifying employees just how the process would work:
“With all the buzz, a lot of you are asking how you can get your hands on a phone and get more involved. So, I am thrilled to announce that a new Windows Phone 7 will be made available to every Microsoft employee as we launch in each market around the world. The process will vary based on your market, your carrier, and your launch date so stay tuned for more information closer to launch.”
It’s typical for handset manufacturers to supply its employees with its own handsets but when you starting taking into account the sheer number of people working at Microsoft, its undoubtedly going to mean friends, families and even random strangers will see the device and want to know more about it.
88,000 handsets isn’t a huge market share but it gives Microsoft an edge before the products actually go on sale (on October 22nd), especially after the KIN fared so poorly.
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