Microsoft Giving Free Handsets To Employees To Promote And Build Platform

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We already know that Microsoft is planning to give out Windows Phone 7 phones to all employees before it launches. But why? It was assumed that Microsoft wants their employees to eat their own dog food – but now it seems mobile boss Andy Lees has other plans.

More internal e-mails from Andy Lees has leaked out to the tech blogs. Lees reveals that he wants Microsoft and it’s 93,000 employees to really impress their friends and family with Windows Phone 7.

When you get your phone, the first thing you can do is MAKE IT PERSONAL! Pick up the phone, turn it on, download mail, get directions, make calls, find friends…. In short USE IT! [...] There is also a lot you can do while we are heading to launch even before you get your phone including: Understand the unique value of Windows Phone 7 and evangelize to your customers, partners, friends and family!

Further more, as we’ve said previously – app stores are making or breaking mobile operating systems these days. Microsoft knows this, and hopes that their 93k technically minded employees will start building a strong app library for the Window Phone 7 platform. Lees writes:

The package includes everything you need to start building apps. In addition, we’ve introduced a new employee developer program which makes it much easier for you to develop apps for Marketplace in your spare time. And if you need some help jumpstarting your development, check out the Windows Phone Developer Training Kit.

The real question is – how many Microsoft employees will really want to develop apps in their free time? Still, mobile apps are a nice budding business these days – and it could be some nice side income for some Microsoft software engineer some where. Not that I’m qualified to give anybody any career advice.