BLATHER REVIEW

Service With A Smile

^{[I received this amusing e-mail last night from honorary sistah, Lawruh. I just GOTTA pass it along. Apparantly Microsoft is outsourcing their customer service desk to Nigeria or something...]}

So I'm thinkin I'm soooooo smart. I found this beta program offered by Microsoft. They are giving away free websites with your own fully registered domain...all FREE!! Whoopeee, right?

You have to sign up and wait to be accepted and finally after a few weeks I got the accpetance email and a code to unlock my treasure chest of goodies. I'm so excited, I've had the design for my website all ready to go and now I'll be official with my own website and no setup charge, not a cent to register my domain and no monthly fees. Awsome.

I follow the link in the email and put in my code...tada, I'm off and running, on my way. I answer all the questions, yadda yadda yadda, offical form, yes yes yes, I accept and voila, my very own domain, laurajillco.com, is registered. Fantastic. This is great, right? Come on...would I be writing if it was great?
Okay so it takes me to the official Microsoft Office Live Basics website and all I have to do is sign in and I can start uploading my files.

Alrightly...hummm...can't sign in....cant do anything. It says I have to download the latest version of Internet Explorer which I have but rarely use on my Mac. Well, okay, no problem, I'll get the latest version. Humm...says here that it's only for PCs. I can't get the version I need to use the program on my Mac. All my files are on my Mac. I do everything on my Mac. I wanna use my Mac.

I skip over to my PC. I sign in, no problem. Tooling around their website seeing what I can do. Well, I don't have my files on that computer so I can't do anything. Shoot. I'm getting a little pissed now too. I mean, my files aren't in HTML yet so I'll have to convert them all to be able to open them on the PC and then, since the fonts arent compatible, I won't be able to edit the files. Geez, this is really getting complicated. The files really arent PC compatible and the website isn't Mac compatible.

I thought I read everything, looking for the loop holes, but I didn't see anything about the necessity to be on a PC. I know, I'll ask for help.
Great, there's a link to the support area and attached is my questions and replies from Microsoft Office Live Support. Ya gotta love it!

--- Original Message --- From: laura-jillxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 3:49:07 PM UTC To: OFFLV.BASC.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.TS.T01.SPT.00.EM Subject: Microsoft Office Live Basics

Full Name:
Laura-Jill

What e-mail address would you like a response sent to?
laura-jillxxxxxx

This is not a technical question. I have questions about the website beta program I just started. I have files on my MAC I would like to upload. The latest version of IE says it's just got Windows. Can I use my mac to upload the files. Can I use my own index page created on my computer? Is there an FTP option? How do I access the 5 email accounts if not in an email client? Will this website be registered without the "temp" "officelive" in the domain name? *In other words, is it www.laurajillco.com?* If I decide I want to move my website, can I switch to a new host and keep the domain name? Thank you for your speedy reply. Laura-Jill

-------------------------

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Piyush and I will be assisting you.

I appreciate your interest in our service. I understand that you need the assistance for the following queries related to Microsoft Office Live Basics subscription.

1. To upload the files through MAC
2. Using of index page.
3. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) option.
4. Accessing 5 e-mail accounts without using an e-mail client.
5. Switching to new host without changing the domain name.

Laura, please find the answers below to all your queries:

1. I would like to inform you that you can not upload the files through MAC. You need Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 4 (SP4) running on Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003.

2. You can use Index page which is created using HTML codes only with Microsoft FrontPage 2003 and this feature is available with Microsoft Office Live Essentials subscription.

3. Laura, I am sorry to inform you that in the beta version, the feature for using FTP to design the web site is not part of the Microsoft Office Live service. This is because Microsoft Office Live works on a more robust Share Point technology which allows online web designing but does not support any offline uploading of pages such as using FTP. Since Microsoft Office Live is in the beta phase the features that are available may appear minimal compared to the needs of a number of experienced web developers.

4. You can directly access your 5 e-mail through Microsoft Office Live. For accessing e-mail you have to perform the following steps.

a. Go to http://officelive.microsoft.com
b. Sign in with your Microsoft Office Live account
c. On Left side of navigation bar click on “E-mail”
d. On right side Click on “Inbox”
e. Type your e-mail address which you have created using Microsoft Office Live and type the password.

Note: You can also access your e-mail from www.hotmail.com

5. You can switch to other host or registrar with keeping the same domain name. In this case you have to first contact your current domain registrar and ask them to release your domain at their end. Once the domain is released from their end, your domain transfer would take several days.

I hope the above given information would be helpful to you. If you have any other queries or suggestions, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further. You can also send your findings and feedback to the link given below.

http://feedback.officelive.com

Laura, we appreciate your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Piyush
Microsoft Office Live Support

-----------------------

--- Original Message ---
From: laura-jillxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 2:36:52 AM UTC
To: OFFLV.BASC.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.TS.T01.SPT.00.EM
Subject: Microsoft Office Live Basics

Full Name:
Laura-Jill

What e-mail address would you like a response sent to?
laura-jillxxxxxx

To ensure a quick resolution, provide as many details as possible, including the date and time the problem occurred, a description of what you were trying to do, the detailed steps you took that led up to the problem, and details on any error messages that you received.
RE: SRX1011174238ID - Microsoft Office Live Basics

Thank you for your quick response.
Unfortunately the answers are more than disappointing, they are not acceptable for my needs.
I will not be able to participate in the beta program and would like to be able to transfer my domain to another server. How do I go about gettng it released?

Laura-Jill
Laura-Jill & Co.,LLC
laura-jillxxxxxx

------------------------------

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Jayesh and I will be glad to assist you.

I understand that you wish to release your domain associated with Microsoft Office Live and transfer it to another server.

I regret the inconvenience caused to you.

Laura, releasing your domain and transferring it to another server will require you to cancel the Microsoft Office Live account. Your domain will be unlocked after sixty days from the date of registration of the subscription.

Please reply and verify your subscription with the following information if you wish to cancel the subscription:

1. The primary e-mail address with which you have signed up for Microsoft Office
Live.
2. The last four digits of the credit card number which you used while signing up.
3. The name of your domain associated with Microsoft Office Live.

Please mention that you would like to cancel the account “immediately” so that the next representative can do the needful. The domain registration key will be given to you with which you will be able to access the DNS information of your domain at the following website:

http://www.melbourneit.com.au/

However, the DNS information cannot be edited unless the domain is unlocked.

We apologize for the inconvenience caused on our part.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Jayesh
Microsoft Office Live Support

------------------------

--- Original Message ---
From: "Laura-Jil"
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 6:45:18 PM UTC
To: OFFLV.BASC.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.TS.T01.SPT.00.EM
Subject: Re: SRX1011270692ID - Microsoft Office Live Basics

I do not want MY domain locked out of use for 60 days.
This offer was targeted at small businesses of which I am one and use of an online presence is of utmost importance to me. A 2 month delay of the ability to have a website is simply not acceptable.
I would love to participate in your program however I was told that I can not upload my previously designed files from my computer to your server. The lockout period is not a mechanical issue. It's "paperwork" and arbitrary and certainly able to be worked through with the touch of a button.

I don't know who "melbourneit" are but there is no doubt that with the proper authority they could simply release the domain which was in existence less than 24 hours before I emailed and found out that I could not participate in your program because I am a graphic designer and only work from a MAC. I didn't know that your program was exclusively PC and that I would not be able to upload the website that I designed for my business onto my domain. Logically speaking, that would be self defeating.
Also please note that I immediately acted upon my discovery. I am not looking to get something for nothing, I simply want to leave without indecent, detriment or loss.

Please respond as soon as possible as my business depends on a web presence and there will be a measurable loss of business due to your delay.

Thank you.

Laura-Jill

Laura-Jill
Laura-Jill&Co,, LLC
laura-jillxxxxxx
203.xxx-xxxx tel
203.xxx-xxxx fax

-------------------------------

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Anoop and I will be glad to assist you.

I understand that you want to release the domain associated with your Microsoft Office Live account without having to wait for another sixty days.

I apologize for any inconvenience caused on our part.

Laura, Melbourne IT is the official domain registrar for Microsoft Office Live.

You would not be able to transfer your domain to another registrar before sixty days because as per ICANN Policies, you need to stay with a Registrar for a minimum period of sixty days before transferring your domain to another Registrar. For information on policies related to domain transfer, please visit the following link http://www.icann.org/transfers/policy-12jul04.htm.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Anoop
Microsoft Office Live Support

--------------------

--- Original Message ---
From: "Laura-Jil"
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 10:20:46 PM UTC
To: OFFLV.0000.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.ES.T02.SPT.00.EM
Subject: Re: SRX1011270692ID - Microsoft Office Live Basics

My first issue is that I didn't see anywhere that I will not be able to use the free web hosting beta program offered by Microsoft Office Live Basics with my Mac computer. Now that I agreed in good faith and I'm locked into closing down my business from all e-commerce including my local clients who expect me to have a website and have none to view for another 60+ days, what can Microsoft Office Live Basics offer to do for me OUTSIDE the box. Not a cut/paste answer from your catalogue of answers for every occasion.

Why not let me use another FTP my files up and manage it through your Beta program? It's just an issue of getting the files in place and then I can leave it for the 60 days until the transfer is complete.

Honestly, I have more to do with my time then argue things that aren't going to change the world either way. Can't we all just get along? It's like I just put my toe in a room and ended up with a mortgage for the entire house. Just help me out here, will ya?

LJ

-----------------------------

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Anoop and I will be glad to assist you.

I understand that you want to use FTP to upload your files.

Laura, as of now this feature is unavailable with the Beta Version of Microsoft Office Live and I regret the inconvenience this has caused. However, your suggestions are valuable to us and will be forwarded to our Microsoft Product Development Team. They will use these suggestions to improve the flexibility and quality of the product and this feature may be available in the near future.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Anoop
Microsoft Office Live Support

----------------------------------

--- Original Message ---
From: "Laura-Jill"
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 12:00:21 AM UTC
To: OFFLV.0000.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.ES.T02.SPT.00.EM
Subject: Re: SRX1011270692ID - Microsoft Office Live Basics

Anoop,
Please offer me a suggestion not just an apology. I appreciate the consistant level of pleasentness and although easier to work with than being obstinant and rude I would rather get some answers by someone crass than just shuffled along with a smile.
Anoop, what are we going to DO about the situation?

LJ

------------------------------

In a message dated 3/25/06 6:43:48 PM, OFFLV.0000.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.ES.T02.SPT.00.EM@css.one.microsoft.com writes:

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Anoop and I will be glad to assist you.

I understand that you want to use FTP to upload your files.

Laura, as of now this feature is unavailable with the Beta Version of Microsoft Office Live and I regret the inconvenience this has caused. However, your suggestions are valuable to us and will be forwarded to our Microsoft Product Development Team. They will use these suggestions to improve the flexibility and quality of the product and this feature may be available in the near future.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Anoop
Microsoft Office Live Support

---------------------------------------------

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Anoop and I will be happy to assist you.

I understand that you want to get your domain released before sixty days and be given the ability to use FTP to upload your files.

Laura, I greatly appreciate your patience involved in trying to resolve this issue.

Since Macintosh Operating System is not compatible with Microsoft Office Live, I suggest you to work on a computer which has Windows Operating System installed.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Anoop
Microsoft Office Live Support

--------------------------------------

--- Original Message ---
From: "Laura-Jill"
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 11:01:21 PM UTC
To: OFFLV.0000.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.ES.T02.SPT.00.EM
Subject: Re: SRX1011270692ID - Microsoft Office Live Basics

I'm communicating with a stone wall, arent I?
Is ANOOP some sort of acranym for one of the network computers?
Android Negotiating Overtly Offensive Politeness
Or perhaps more like Marie Antoinette in robot form!
"The peasants all have MACs and can't upload their files to the server."
"Ahhhh...then let them use PCs!"
I mean really? I should go out and buy a new computer with a different operating system in order to make up for the fact that I wasn't informed about the compatibility issue until AFTER my domain was registered? All this to take advantage of a FREE web host? I think not.
Do you not think these thing through before replying?
I can see that besieging you with clever banter will go unappreciated but I'm sure my blogger friend will have a ball putting this up on his blog and at least a few thousand Windows users, a mere drop in the world wide bucket, will know that in the event that Microsoft offers a Trojan horse, RUN!

I'll start the process to release my domain...bloody and broken but not defeated.

LJ

------------------------------

In a message dated 3/26/06 12:33:37 AM, OFFLV.0000.NA.US.EN.WIP.BOM.ES.T02.SPT.00.EM@css.one.microsoft.com writes:

Hello Laura,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. My name is Anoop and I will be happy to assist you.

I understand that you want to get your domain released before sixty days and be given the ability to use FTP to upload your files.

Laura, I regret for the inconvenience caused to you due to the fact that you cannot use Microsoft Office Live with a Macintosh computer.

However, the fact that Microsoft Office Live is not compatible with Macintosh Operating System has been mentioned on the Microsoft Office Live website itself. For more information regarding the same, you can visit the following link: http://officelive.microsoft.com/officelivebasic.aspx .

As mentioned earlier, your suggestions are valuable to us and have been forwarded to the Microsoft Product Development Team.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Microsoft Office Live and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Office Live Support. Have a great day!

Regards

Anoop
Microsoft Office Live Support

---------------------------------------

Yea, Anoop,
It took three customer service reps and 7 emails to find that well hidden piece of information. Not exactly an easily found fact some three quarters of the way down your list of FAQs which are displayed in a light blue that made my eyes ache trying to read through. So in response:

Hello Anoop,

Thank you for contacting Laura-Jill & Co., LLC. My name is Laura-Jill and I will be happy to assist you.

I understand you need some assistance creating an attractive yet functional website.
Anoop, I am pleased to inform you that I am a graphic deisgner and will be happy to assist you.

Regretfully though, since you are not compatible with Mac OS, the graphic industry standard, you can see proofs of the beautiful improvements to the website but they can not actually be uploaded and therefore will remain unused.

Your suggestions are valuable to us and have been forwarded to the Laura-Jill & Co., LLC Product Development Team.

If you have any other queries, please write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

We value your association with Laura-Jill & Co., LLC and look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service.

Thank you for contacting Laura-Jill & Co., LLC. Have a great day!

Regards

Laura-Jill
Laura-Jill & Co., LLC

By the way it WASNT on the page you sent me:
http://officelive.microsoft.com/officelivebasic.aspx
it is on this page:
http://officelive.microsoft.com/officelivebasic.aspx#18
and it took several minutes to find the specific link you were refering to but thats a lot faster than the three days it took Microsoft Office Live Support to find the link to show me.

Anoop, no reply is necessary. Go home, get some sleep. You earned it.

Posted by Tuning Spork at March 26, 2006 02:53 PM | TrackBack