Microsoft's Droidrage WP7 Giveaway Heats Up

Microsoft's senior director of Windows Phone communications, Bill Cox, Thursday said that Microsoft received more than 3,200 responses to the offer it made earlier this week to Android smartphone users who have run afoul of malware.

Monday, Microsoft Windows Phone evangelist Ben Rudolph made an interesting offer through Twitter. Rudolph tweeted, "More malware on Android! Been hit? Share yr #droidrage story to win a #windowsphone upgrade. 5 best (worst?) win!" and later "Been nailed with Android malware and have #Droidrage? Share [your] story with me ... you might win an upgrade to a #windowsphone!"

In other words, Rudolph was using the recent malware scare to drum up interest in Windows Phone. Well, interest is exactly what Rudolph got.

One user responded: "(shamefully admitting) I fell for the Cut the Rope SMS exploit, they got me for $352.26. #droidrage #windowsphone #androidsucks."

Another said: "Personal info compromised twice from malware. #windowsphone looks too beautiful for hackers to dare lay a finger on. #droidrage"

That's just two out of 3,200.

[ Microsoft's trying a host of tricks to showcase its mobile OS. See Microsoft 'Converts' iPhones, Android Devices To Windows Phone. ]

Microsoft's Cox didn't reveal how it tallied up the responses, nor if each and every response was a case of legitimate malware problems, but that doesn't matter. The fact that 3,200 people on Twitter chimed in to say how dissatisfied they are with their Android smartphone is a huge win for Microsoft--even if the respondents have never touched a Windows Phone.

According to WinRumors, this isn't the first time Rudolph has pulled this type of stunt. WinRumors reports that he gave away 25 WP7 smartphones in October to "frustrated BlackBerry users" during the October service outage. RIM also fielded more than 500 responses from interested webOS developers after HP announced plans to dump its webOS hardware business.

Rudolph's original offer was for five WP7 smartphones. Given the enormity of the response, let's hope Microsoft is a little bit more generous than that.

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