Microsoft challenges prominent Android users to switch to Windows Phone

Microsoft is wooing selected, well-known Android users by offering them Windows Phone 7 devices, then offering to make a donation to charity if they aren’t won over. The apparently semi-official effort began July 25 via a message to Dilbert creator Scott Adams from Brandon Watson, Microsoft’s Director of Developer Experience for the smartphone operating system.
On July 19, Scott Adams posted a message on his blog complaining that his previously owned Apple iPhone “dropped every call that lasted more than a minute.” He added:

 

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    “My Android phone works most of the time for voice calls. But I’m afraid to actually use it because the battery life is about an hour and it’s no good to me with no power.”

“Now I only think of my phone as an emergency device, like my first brick-sized cell phone. I wouldn’t use it to make a social phone call. My battery wouldn’t last. And I wouldn’t often use it for email because the keyboard sucks and the battery drains then as well.”

“Yes, I have researched all the many ways to save battery life. I have apps that kill other apps. I turn off Wi-Fi and 4G and Bluetooth until I need them. Nothing seems to keep my battery from draining like a frat boy’s bladder on a Saturday night. Result: I leave my Android plugged in all the time, whether I am at my desk, near my bed, or in the car.Thank you Google for inventing a corded phone. I can’t wait for your next innovation: the butter churn.”

Luckily for Adams, Brandon Watson (pictured) — Microsoft’s Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7 — is apparently a loyal Dilbert fan. On July 24, he made the following comment (noticed first by Manan Kakkar of Techie-Buzz.com) on Adams’ blog: “Since your readership has a high probability of cross over with our developer base, how about I make you a deal with one of the phones we reserve for developers. Take Windows Phone for a spin.”

Watson added, “Give it an honest run, and if you don’t love it more than either of your iPhone or Android experiences, I’ll make a $1000 donation to the charity of your choice. You can’t really lose on this deal.”

Watson even included his e-mail address and phone number, also quipping that there are “no special instructions on how to hold the phone to make calls. Oh, and the battery lasts a long time.”

As WinRumors’ Tom Warren has reported, Watson also extended the offer to CNet reporter Molly Wood, who had tweeted complaints about her Motorola Droid X July 24. He tweeted in return, “Sorry to hear you are having troubles with Android. Care to take the Windows Phone challenge?”

How ’bout we point out, Brandon, that WindowsForDevices.com has been writing about Windows phones since 2002, and today makes do with a Android-powered Samsung Intercept (with, yes, two-hour battery life, and a pathetic lack of responsiveness)?

(As it happens, there’s been nary a Windows Phone review sample over here, despite our requests and extensive coverage over the many months.)