Microsoft will give Windows phones to people with droidrage

STRUGGLING MOBILE software house Microsoft is offering people suffering from frustration with Android phones the chance to get a Windows one for free.

The offer comes from @Benthepcguy, a Twitter account run by Ben Rudolph, Microsoft's Windows Phone and Windows PC Evangelist, who posted the following messages onto the social micro-messaging web site yesterday.

"If you have #droidrage from Android malware, share your story w/me and you could win a #windowsphone !" and "Been nailed with Android malware and have #Droidrage ? Share you story with me...you might win an upgrade to a #windowsphone !"

He is not short of responses, many of which complain about Android-based malware. "Personal info compromised twice from malware. #windowsphone looks too beautiful for hackers to dare lay a finger on. #droidrage," says one competition entrant.

"Constant restarts? Check. Poor battery life? Check. Short circuit SD cards? Check. Platform fragmentation? Check. #droidrage," adds another.

Other searches for the hashtag turn up Twitter criticism about Microsoft's effort and its rather transparent marketing ploy. We have asked Google if it wants to comment, and will update if and when it does.

If you want to help a Microsoft person publicly slate a rival's software for free then you can join in the fun on Rudolph's Twitter feed. If your comment is negative enough he might even retweet it. µ