Microsoft might be looking for a new Windows Phone Twitter account manager today after an attempt to crowd-source attacks on Android-based phones backfired and instead prompted a barrage of attack tweets against Windows Phone, Windows security and Microsoft.
The original tweet from the Windows Phone Twitter account asked users of Android devices to post horror stories about malware on the devices. In return, they would win an unspecified prize.
EARLIER GAFFE: Microsoft apologizes for using Japan disaster to market Bing
ANOTHER TECH TWITTER FAIL: App abuses Twitter IDs to produce bogus piracy 'confessions'
RELATED: Dumbest tech marketing stunts of all time
But quickly readers of the Twitter account started attacking Microsoft, Windows Phone, the attempt to cast Android in a bad light and the dearth of applications for Windows Phone.
The Windows Phone account soldiered on, not responding to the barrage and posting ho-hum promotional tweets such as "Best friends photographed with an #HTC8X," and "Meet the Nokia #Lumia620. You've never seen a smartphone this beautiful, for this price."
The original tweet that brought on the attack:"Do you have an Android malware horror story? Reply with #DroidRage with your best/worst story and we may have a get-well present for you."
Here is a smattering of the responses:
Crazy Canuck Coder @CrazyCanuckCodr: "Seriously, Microsoft? #DroidRage? How's the sales of Windows 8 going for ya?"
Justin @SynisterWolf: "I hate when my Android doesn't lock or reboot often. I really miss my @windowsphone Blue Screen."
D Saif @DSaifAndroid: "I tried to buy a Nexus 4 but the device is so popular to get one! I wish it was less popular like Windows Phone."
Will Turner @WTWV: Amazing that.. of all companies... $MSFT calls out another OS over malware. HA!"
Tom Dustin @Tomdustin: "Android doesn't allow me to install dangerous software from untrusted sources. Why can't you be more like Windows?"
Always Android @AlwaysAndroiD: "There are so many apps available on @GooglePlay that sometimes I get #DroidRage trying to figure out which ones I want to download."
Khaver Siddiqi @thekarachikid: "#droidrage is what #windows comes up with when they have a lot of #ballmerrage."
Barry @phosjaw: "First prize is a Windows phone, 2nd prize is TWO Windows phones"
Android Central is striking back: "Whoops. Just activated another million devices today. Sorry bout that," and "Raise your hand if you suffered through Windows Mobile 5. Or Windows Mobile 6. Or Windows Mobile 6.5."
Sikemapleton Never had this #DroidRage you speak of, but have had plenty of #WindowsRage when my desktop and laptop BSOD every other day.
(Tim Greene covers Microsoft for Network World and writes the Mostly Microsoft blog. Reach him at tgreene@nww.com and follow him on Twitter.)
Read more about anti-malware in Network World's Anti-malware section.