Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7 demo on iOS and Android

Microsoft is making a bid to convert the Android and Apple crowds to its own Windows Phone platform.

The company released a web demo that is accessible through your smartphone browser. Curious potential converts simply have to point their iPhone or Android device to http://aka.ms/wpdemo.

Once there, you’ll get a fully interactive preview of the operating system. It’s more or less exactly what you’ll find on a Windows Phone, except it’s been populated with generic contacts and photos to give a taste of how things would be with your own stuff loaded on.

A handy blue dot points out particular points of interest to get you started if you’re a little overwhelmed.

It’s a clever marketing move and one that is well-timed with Nokia’s Lumia 800 marketing campaign, which seems to be drumming up a lot of interest in Windows Phone.

Data from November has shown the number of Windows Phone users has gone up dramatically since the Lumia 800 launched.

With this new demo marketing ploy going live alongside continued interest in Nokia's new handsets, Microsoft seems quite likely to gain a more substantial smartphone market share.