Microsoft to Windows Phone MVPs: "You're Fired"

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-retire-refocus-windows-phone-mvp-program/9897' target='_blank'>http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft...vp-program/9897</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Microsoft is making some big changes to one of its Windows Phone programs that is resulting in some unhappy former advocates. A number of Windows Phone Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) - the volunteer army that has helped Microsoft with its mobile phone charge - are being notified this week that Microsoft is dropping them from its program."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//wpt/auto/1309475517.usr1.png" /></p><p>At some point in the future I'll have something eloquent to say about this news, but for now I can only shake my head in dismay. This is simply not the right way to treat people who have volunteered their time to help your customers.</p>

[Fritzly]

History repeats itself........ and MS keeps repeating its previous mistakes.........

I am sure some people know what I am referring to...........

[benjimen]

Windows Phone just is grabbing market share, it shouldn't be long for other various aspects of it begin closing up shop :(

[landslide]

Absolutely shocking...

[van_mierlo]

Like I said, so sad.....but more so confused what the strategy behind it is.

[Richard76]

Somebody please, take the gun away from Microsoft (or at least help them point the barrel at 90 degrees)!

[The Yaz]

This makes perfect sense for MS. Let's follow the successful model of our new partner Nokia! We'll save money that would've been wasted on a test phone loan program, the communications group that kept in touch with the MVP's and cost of the awards announcements.

Our OS is so good now we don't need to talk it up...

Android and IOS fear us, and our drive to the top is a formality. The forcasters said so and they are always right!

:(:(:(:(

First we lost PocketPC Thoughts, and I'm starting to think Jason will be shutting Down WindowsPhone Thoughts in the near future...

Steve

[3DPiper]

This doesn't surprise me..

I recently animated a new WP7 phone for a regional cellular provider (in addition to blackberrys and android phones).. As a WP user myself, I really wanted it to look good.. The cellular company has about a million customers, so I knew my animation may directly influence their buying decision..

I asked if I could get a video screen capture of the UI in action.. I was told: this isn't possible. I said, how do they do it for the big conferences where the screen is seen live via USB? I was told: that is a special version of the OS, and I can't have access to it..

I said, OK, can I send you the voice over and script and you capture the screen for me? it would take 2 minutes to do.. very easy.. I was told: No.

So I said, can I at least get some screen grabs and I will animate the elements myself? I was told: No.

I have been a very dedicated WP activist, and this was a great way to really show off the phone to potiential customers.. Luckily I found a local developer who got me some screen grabs..

It has really left a sour taste in my mouth for the official WP team..

[Nelson Ocampo]

This wasn't handled very well.

The problem with companies as large as Microsoft is that one hand often doesn't understand what the other hand is doing. Or maybe, one hand doesn't care so much about the other hand.

To me it sounds like whoever was in charge of handling this is probably from a part of the company where they really don't care about how the PR for it will look like.

[karen]

I thought of you, Jason, when I read about the whole closing of the MVP Program for WP. Then I saw Mike's tweet about it featured in Mary Jo's blog.

I was shocked, too. All I could think of what that the whole product line must be closing down. I'm not sure I'll ever understand it.

[promano]

Why doesn't this surprise me ???

All of the COLLEGE DEGREES in the world couldn't teach any corporate manager
that letting go your best people is not the way to continue a winning business.

I've seen it happen in many businesses and NONE of those businesses are here today.

I'd hate to see MS take this stand for their Windows Phone products when they have
so much at stake in the next few months.
Windows based phones have such a large share of the marketplace and doing something
as stupid as this is just what will scare those users to an "i" branded product
or even and "Android" based product.

Do any of you have a tazer ???

[Jason Dunn]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. This has been interesting to watch unravel - it seems that Microsoft wants to re-focus the Windows Phone MVP program on the Answers site (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/winphone/forum/wp7?tab=all).

Some people are getting re-awarded or transferred to the new "Consumer" title - but only if they're highly active in Answers (which I am not). It seems Microsoft believes the only valid method of community support is in that forum, and nowhere else. This is a really unfortunate turn of events because I personally believe when a customer needs help with a Windows Phone, they're going to go to their favourite search engine, type in what they need help with (or what they're researching), and click on whatever site/forum/blog has the answer. They're not going to go to Answers, post a question, and wait for a response.

It's Microsoft's program and they can manage it however they wish, but in the nearly 14 years I've been a part of the MVP program, I've never seen anything like this before. I can only shake my head in sadness at the contributions that are being ignored or marginalized. :(

[Fritzly]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. This has been interesting to watch unravel - it seems that Microsoft wants to re-focus the Windows Phone MVP program on the Answers site (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/winphone/forum/wp7?tab=all).

Some people are getting re-awarded or transferred to the new "Consumer" title - but only if they're highly active in Answers (which I am not). It seems Microsoft believes the only valid method of community support is in that forum, and nowhere else. (

I am sure MS had some focus group or survey showing that "Forums" are what "customers" want.................. (Sarcasm) Then suddendly they realize that, surprise, surprise, "real customers" prefer the old way; something like what happened with "cut n paste" and "multitasking" in WP7.

[Nelson Ocampo]

It is perplexing.

When I want to know something, I do exactly what Jason said. I rarely go to the Answers site. To me it just feels like a lot of noise.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Too often, companies force good to great talent out just to push their own policies. In this case it is the I-never-heard-about-till-today Answers site. Sad to see this happen.