Website takes the fight to retail for Windows Phone 7

A website has been set up to boost Windows Phone 7 sales, claiming retail's current attitude towards the platform 'is an abnomination'.

WPTattleTale, as the website is known, outlines his personal experiences when shopping for a Windows Phone 7 handset.

The blog, which is written by Robert McLaws, a former MVP for ASP.net and Windows, says, 'The retail experience, as handle by carriers and their affiliates, is an abomination. It's pretty hard to try out a new device experience when the device is either broken, dead, or a plastic shell with a sticker for a home screen.

'Or when the response to 'Can I see a Windows Phone?' is met with 'Have you seen the AMOLED screen on the Samsung Charge?'

It's an interesting idea and one that is written by a self-confessed Microsoft man, but we've seen first-hand many of the points mentioned.

Our local phone shop - well, one of the hundreds popping up everywhere - only has one device on display, and that's it. Some phone shops have the phone in the window on a big display but we've found more often than not store advisors don't fully understand it.

Is this part of a wider issue - one that cements a lack of brand awareness amongst consumers, further proof of Android's increasingly strong grip or an issue with educating both the consumer and retail, alike? Does it just boil down to sheer profitability?

Whilst your opinion on an operating system, like anything, is purely subjective, it's strange how few understand the platform, or shun it purely on its predecessor, Windows Mobile (in the case of the former, perhaps rightfully so).

We've yet to meet anyone who dislikes it having given it a go.

Let's face it, Windows Phone 7 can't be bad from a design point of view if Apple is prepared to borrow a fair few elements from it for its forthcoming iOS 5 platform, something Microsoft's Joe Belfiore Microsoft described on Twitter as 'flattery'.

Ultimately, to ignore what Robert McLaws has to say would be a shame. All of the mobile platforms out there have their merits, and whilst Windows Phone 7 may not have set the world on fire yet, its recent demo of the Mango update indicates its direction of travel is one virtually any consumer would enjoy.

Those who agree with the website's goal can name and shame phone shops - just head on over to TattleTale to register your thoughts.

We approached Microsoft for comment - we will update the article when a spokesperson gets back to us.