Microsoft has teamed up with AT&T to offer a buy one, get one free sale on its Windows Phone handsets. The promotion is available in AT&T stores only and applies to the Samsung Focus, HTC Surround, and the LG Quantum. Starting Black Friday November 26th, interested customers can snag two Windows Phone handsets for the price of one when they sign up for a two-year customer agreement for each handset. Each smartphone also requires a $36 per line activation fee and a minimum $15 per month data plan.
Taken at face value, Microsoft and AT&T may be trying to drum up some interest in its handsets during the popular Black Friday and holiday shopping season. Someone looking closer at the reasons behind this sale, though, may view it as an admission that Windows Phone 7 handsets are not selling well in the important first month of sales.
This early fire sale certainly has tech pundits and analysts raising their eyebrows as other manufacturers like Motorola and Apple have not reduced their flagship handsets so soon after launch. If this latter reason pans out, it does not bode well for the early success of Windows Phone. Palm also reduced its Pre Plus quickly after launch and we know how poorly that turned out.
Before you start hatin’ on me, I am reasonably optimistic that Windows Phone will be successful. Microsoft is addressing many of the issues, like developer support and sub-par hardware, that Palm failed to do when it launched the Pre. Microsoft also has deep pockets and can offer Windows Phone handsets with a discount like it is doing with the BOGO sale above. It will take time for Windows Phone to build up momentum, but I do believe it will be competitive in the coming year.
Speaking of AT&T and Windows Phone, you can check out full review of the Samsung Focus here, our full review of the HTC Surround here, and our hands-on review of the LG Quantum here. You may also enjoy reading our first impressions of the Windows phone platform here.
[Via Microsoft]