• The Register, Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:14 PM

Giving its mobile strategy a much-need boost, Microsoft plans to give new Windows 7 phones to its entire workforce. "Redmond told its workers (the official headcount comes in around 87,000 people worldwide) that each and every last one of 'em would soon be fondling their very own Windows 7 phone, which is set to officially launch in October," reports The Register.

ZDNet's Microsoft-watcher Mary Jo Foley first tweeted the news on Wednesday. The move is clearly designed to get consumers and industry insider buzzing about Windows 7 phones, as well as spearhead their broader adoption. Early reviews of the phones were strong, but Microsoft has faced many mobile setbacks, and has struggled to establish itself in a market presently dominated by Apple, and, to a lesser degree, Android-maker Google. As The Register adds, "All of this will be good publicity for the firm that up to now hasn't really made any notable inroads into the mobile phone biz."

Read the whole story at The Register »