Microsoft dubs Windows Phone 7 'Ad serving machine'

The Register (British Tech) ^ | 27 June 2010 | Rik Myslewski

[dayglored]

Of course, it's no secret that smartphones are viewed by advertisers as the perfect medium for braying their unwanted, intrusive, annoying claptrap in the faces of people who are looking to make a phone-call, play a game, or watch a video.

Television has been doing that for 60 years. Nothing particularly new.

But what do you say we stop pretending that these mobile advertising platforms are "phones" at all?

I think Microsoft is correct, and should be applauded for coming out and saying what Apple and Google have been reluctant to admit -- that their fancy high-tech products are simply another fancy way to sell soap.

An "AD SERVING MACHINE". Yep, that's what it is.

[dayglored]

Tech ping, Apple ping (indirectly, perhaps), and I'd be interested in Puget's take on this.

BTW, this article is a week old, but I didn't see it posted previously, and it's still relevant, I think.

[ikka]

So why should I PAY for a phone when they are going to make all this money from me? MSFT has enough cash ... they should just give the phones away for free.

[max americana]

Well..at least they were honest about it.

[dayglored]

> But what do you say we stop pretending that these mobile advertising platforms are "phones" at all?... fancy high-tech products are simply another fancy way to sell soap.

Yes, of course, that was intended to be intentionally provocative. Of course I know smartphones do all sorts of useful things.

Point is, what the hell are the ads doing there??? They're going to take over....

[dayglored]

> Well..at least they were honest about it.

Frankly, it was a breath of fresh air. Shockingly so. :)

[Psycho_Bunny]

"...stay in touch with your customer. It's a dynamic relationship that's created. It provides for an ongoing dialogue with a consumer."

People who speak this way should be beaten with sticks until they stop.

[J Edgar]

... So why should I PAY ...

Because MS developed the technology, MS is marketing the technology, and MS is BIG.

Unless a competitor markets a phone more to your liking, that’s what you are stuck with if you want to use their technology.
It’s a buy/no buy choice on your part, being one of the millions of buyers who can register market pressure.

[dayglored]

> People who speak this way should be beaten with sticks until they stop.

ROFLOL! Yes, exactly!!

[Goldsborough]

Microsoft’s marketing regularly displays a depth of failure which is next to impossible to fathom.

[dayglored]

> It’s a buy/no buy choice on your part, being one of the millions of buyers who can register market pressure.

Very well put.

The only thing that can put a stop to an ever-increasing deluge of annoying advertisements will be customer rejection of the phones the ads are delivered on.

[dayglored]

> Microsoft’s marketing regularly displays a depth of failure which is next to impossible to fathom.

How so? They're exactly accurate here, I think.

Granted, they have the world's record for lousy marketing. But in this case, I suspect they know what they're doing...

[PugetSoundSoldier]

You’re exactly right. MS has just come out and said exactly what everyone else is actually doing; Google and Apple are looking at their phones as ad streams, but have been very coy about it claiming the real reason. MS just states it.

MS is hated/feared, so they can be blunt and honest, don’t have to tip-toe around the truth.

At least it can be turned off!

[ExGeeEye]

I have a negative gut reaction to this.

[dayglored]

Hi Puget, thanks for your rapid response. Glad we agree on the real motive here. Seems pretty self-evident, and I look forward to Apple and Google owning up to it eventually. Ain't holding my breath, though.

> MS is hated/feared, so they can be blunt and honest, don’t have to tip-toe around the truth.

Well, in this instance that's certainly true, and I grant that it's true in general.

Then again, one suspects that they are never going to own up to their role in the never-ending zombie psycho-drama called "SCO" :)

[eggman]

A phone that serves up a steady stream of telespam. Then they can sell you apps that filter the ads.

[dayglored]

> Then again, one suspects that they are never going to own up to their role in the never-ending zombie psycho-drama called "SCO" :)

No that wasn't intended as a thread hijack, just a snarky comment on the fly... :)

[dayglored]

> A phone that serves up a steady stream of telespam. Then they can sell you apps that filter the ads.

"SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! ..."

"But I don't LIKE SPAM!!!"

"Aww, dear, don't make a fuss... just buy this little app and it'll send all your spam into the spam-bucket!"

[dayglored]

> I have a negative gut reaction to this.

You and me both.

I have one of those bumper stickers that says "KILL YOUR TELEVISION". Does this mean I have to get one that says:

"KILL YOUR SMARTPHONE"

...too??

[RachelFaith]

Wait.... did MircoSoft just say that #3 is basically a POP UP AD on your Phone?

WHO?

WHO in there right mind would EVER want that?

Oh please MicroSoft, I loved all the pop ups on IE in the 90s... can you make it all blinky and flashy too like a cheap GIF that gives me seizures?

Sometimes... I am just shocked.... SHOCKED that this company is still in business... more money than brains!