Blur bassist offers Windows Phone rewards

CHEESE FANATIC AND OCCASIONAL BASSIST Alex James is the creative director for a social networking gadget on Windows Phone and has ushered in a competition that does not sound very tempting at all.

As part of this exciting new development for Microsoft's latest smartphone operating system James, who plucks the strings for UK band Blur, has lent himself to a 'My Kind of Phone' rewards offer for users. He announced this on the social networking web site Facebook where he talked about cheese and the importance of liking things on social networking web sites and downloading apps.

"Connect with our new into by Windows Phone app and be in with a chance to win a trip to Finland - if you can brave the cold," says a not very tempting offer touted by the bassist.

Depending on how you feel about James, Windows Phone and Facebook this could be the worst thing you have ever read. If you use Windows Phone, and like apps and update things on Facebook, then you could get to win a holiday to a place that even Microsoft suggests is too cold to enjoy.

The app or promo or rewards offer slash gewgaw is called 'Into', and users are asked to share things that they are 'Into' with their friends in order to qualify for a barrage of rewards.

"Are you into Windows Phone? If so, it just got a whole lot more rewarding. Whatever it is you're into, into by Windows Phone will bring it closer to you, all in one place," says the beguiling blog post that takes us into, er, Into.

"Into will bring you exciting handpicked offers that you can share with friends, introduce you to new experiences and offer up the chance to see videos and articles from amazing UK contributors. It could even get you and your friends into some unique events."

It is so easy to take part that people are already into Into, advises the post about the competition that none of us thinks is just a pathetic attempt to make any of this fun to use.

"Just showed a mate your Windows Phone? You're already gaining points to unlock content from some incredible contributors," it says. "Tweeted about some great things you can do with your phone? You're tweeting yourself and your friends a pass into some amazing events in music, food and much more besides."

If this has tempted you, and the idea of a trip to Finland has tempted you even more, then run upstairs and raid every wardrobe in the house. Oh, you might need to go out and buy a Windows Phone device too, depending on whether you are, or are not, one of the minority that uses it.

Once you have the phone, the app, the pile of warm clothes and the Facebook account, you need to put on as many garments as you can in order to prepare for the cold Finnish winter, take a photo of yourself and tweet it along with a special message, then once you have stopped cracking your ribs with laughter and regained your circulation, it is time to upload the photo and wait.

The Windows Phone team and a Nokia expert will judge who's best-dressed for the Finnish weather, according to the post, and the winner and one guest will get to spend three days in Finland wondering why they packed so many clothes.

Anyone that does not fancy the competition can still benefit from Into as it will offer them rewards like discussions on tractors, cheese, music, telescopes, handpicked offers and articles and videos from contributors. µ