Sanitized Bing For Schools

This is a good move for Microsoft, and it is great news for schools, educators, and students. Along with rumblings about offering Windows Runtime(RT) Surface Tablets for very low prices ($199 vs. $399), Microsoft is sending the message that it is willing to compete with Chromebooks, the iPad, and Macbooks for education dollars. All three want users to see their products and services early on so that they develop a brand relationship. Also, by committing to education, the three companies may inspire more students to enter tech, which improves the quality of the workforce.

For years, Apple had developed a great relationship with education institutions because it had offered deals and promotions to schools. Students and teachers used the products and got hooked. Microsoft was viewed as the supporter of business and did not seem to have a cool factor. Offering Bing search that has results that are ad free helps schools offer a product that is not exploitive of children and puts power at their fingertips. Competition is also good because school boards now have a variety of options to help them offer the best education policy possible.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042822/microsoft-to-sanitize-bing-for-schools.html

It is important to protect intellectual property rights. Otherwise, if there are no protections for intellectual property, there is no incentive for profit seeking businesses to risk their resources and capital.

This policy was not communicated well, and it ended up being too restrictive. Most users have Internet connectivity, so the policy that states the XBOX One must ping back was not that big a deal (unless you have a console that has been modded). The used game policy, in contrast, was a big deal. Some gamers plan on buying a favored title, winning it, and then selling it so that they can subsidize their game playing habits. The new policies would have affected this strategy because some games would not be able to trade titles at all (depends on the publisher) without the purchaser paying a fee to activate content.

This attempt at changing the relationship between the gamers, publishers, and the console manufacturer is too much too soon. It also played into Sony’s hands. Great move reversing course, but the policy should have been better planned, better executed (value price proposition should have included more value), or it should not have been announced at all.

http://www.techhive.com/article/2042445/microsoft-reverses-policies-on-xbox-one-rentals-online-check-ins-and-region-restrictions.html

Mobile games typically have different budgets and serve a different gamer audience (Yes, some crossover, but different) . Mobile developers may have decided that E3 was not the most cost effective way to promote their products.

http://www.techhive.com/article/2041683/mobile-games-mostly-mia-at-e3.html

Along with Samsung and Google, Microsoft will now have some dedicated space in Best Buy stores. This is good for the consumer because associates in these areas will be better trained and will be better able to serve the public. This move also gives more scale to Microsoft store operations, which is important as Microsoft continues to expand into areas like hardware, services, film and television production/development, and games.

Note: This might also level the playing field between Samsung, Google, and Microsoft and Apple for coolness and more importantly in the tablet space. Regardless if there is still showrooming going on, consumers will at least be able to get more information about all of these products before buying either in person or online.

http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2013/06/google-releases-google-plus-dashboards-for-business-pages.html

A. Our business posts commercials, infomercials, or event video on our company Youtube channel.

B. Not yet. Still thinking about it.

C. Not ever.

Does your business use Google Plus to connect with your customers and potential customers? Do you use it promote your business on the web on mobile devices or stationary computing devices? No? What is your take on this social network for your online persona or business social network strategy?

A. I use it for my business or to connect with friends, like minded people, or family.

B. I really only use either Facebook or Twitter.

C. I do not use social networks (neither does my business)