Microsoft has offered US President Barack Obama a free Windows Phone 7 device. Where did that come from? It all started when Obama jokingly complained about how he doesn't get to use the latest and greatest technology.
"The Oval Office, I always thought I was going to have really cool phones and stuff," Obama said during a Q&A session with contributors to his re-election campaign, according to CBS. "We can't get our phones to work. Come on, guys. I'm the president of the United States! Where's the fancy buttons and stuff and the big screen comes up? It doesn't happen."
Microsoft took the opportunity to offer Obama a phone. The Microsoft EMEA Twitter account (EMEA stands for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) sent out the following message:
Hey @BarackObama, we hear you want a cool phone - how about a Windows Phone 7? We can send one your way! https://fxn.ws/eflCNx #WP7
The Barack Obama Twitter account did not respond. We don't think Obama is actually complaining about his mobile phone (he uses a BlackBerry), but rather the phone on his desk in the Oval Office, and all the other outdated gadgets in the room. Microsoft's tweet was still a smart marketing move, however, even if Obama won't start using a Windows phone.
In fact, we're pretty certain he won't: the BlackBerry is still the most trusted device by governments, thanks to its excellent security. The US government would have to go through quite a process to test Windows Phone to make sure it is acceptable as well.
This isn't the first time Microsoft has made a WP7 offer to someone famous. Earlier this year, the software giant offered hacker George Hotz, also known as GeoHot, a free WP7 device.