About a year ago at CES we kicked off Smoked by Windows Phone, and since then, we’ve run over 250,000 challenges in 54 countries, and the videos of these good-natured smackdowns have been watched more than 70 million times.
Smoked gave people concrete evidence why Windows Phone was better than their smartphone – namely, that it’s simply faster at the real things that people do every day.
Speed is great. But most people aren’t looking for a phone that’s just fast. They’re looking for a phone that’s a perfect match for them—their style, the things they do, and the things they love. That means pairing shutterbugs with a world-class camera phone like the Lumia 920 and the power of automagic SkyDrive backup. Or Skypeaholics with the ultra-wide-angle front-facing-camera on the Windows Phone 8X and deep Skype integration. Or showing social butterflies how they can stay in touch with the people they care about through the People Hub.
That’s why I’m excited about the launch of Meet Your Match. It’s a different take on our Smoked challenges, focusing not just on why Windows Phone is faster, but also on why it’s better, easier, more useful, and more fun. The soul of Smoked – a side-by-side comparison of us vs. the other guys – hasn’t changed, but now it’s about why our phones and features are a better match for you, no matter who you are or what you’re into.
To kick things off we’ve put together a new YouTube video series. Each shows real people putting their smartphone – and more importantly, their idea of what a smartphone can do – to the test against Windows Phone. Here’s a sample involving the Cooks, a family I met when we were shooting in Santa Monica.
Here’s another featuring a couple who were both avid iPhone 5 users:
And here’s a spot where we introduce Kid’s Corner to busy moms and dads. If you have kids, you’ll definitely relate to their reactions.
As I said, these videos are debuting on YouTube today, but you might run into some of these spots as digital banners or running before video content on your favorite site over the next few weeks.
Seeing people find their perfect smartphone match in Windows Phone is good, but nothing beats experiencing it for yourself. That’s why we’re taking Meet Your Match on tour across the world! Starting this week, you’ll find Windows Phone events featuring Meet Your Match challenges in malls all and Microsoft Stores all over the US, as well as in the UK, France and Germany. Come by to check out the new phones and accessories, learn about what’s new in Windows Phone 8, and put your phone to the test against our latest and greatest. Who knows? You might win something awesome when you stop by!
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