Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US http://mschnlnine.vo.llnwd.net/d1/Dev/App_Themes/C9/images/feedimage.png Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums Channel 9 keeps you up to date with the latest news and behind the scenes info from Microsoft that developers love to keep up with. From LINQ to SilverLight – Watch videos and hear about all the cool technologies coming and the people behind them. http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums en Sat, 25 May 2013 02:38:32 GMT Sat, 25 May 2013 02:38:32 GMT Rev9 79 -79 -1 Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Am I the only one thinking this ? http://callemin.be/blog/?p=232

 

I was so frusterated I wrote a complete post about what I think is wrong with Microsoft's strategy. Is there anybody on abroad that does not agree with me?

 

I want to discus this to maybe adjust my view on this whole situation. Anybody care to give his or her oppinion ?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/565436#565436 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:18:33 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/565436#565436 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Oh man, don't get me started. The whole XBox Live experience in Europe is laughable, except perhaps in Britain. Media Center is next to useless here for watching or recording TV. Your closing sentiment, about there being a lot of room for innovation and lots of potential, and that it's a shame none of it is being used sums up my feelings about Microsoft in general, and for European services in particular.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/146f09ab315d43de9b9a9dea00a9c426#146f09ab315d43de9b9a9dea00a9c426 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:35:18 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/146f09ab315d43de9b9a9dea00a9c426#146f09ab315d43de9b9a9dea00a9c426 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Or speech recognition in Windows and Office.

 

Microsoft doesn't spend any money on development or marketing in Europe.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/d5e1ce11be8f4342aa9a9dea00a9c430#d5e1ce11be8f4342aa9a9dea00a9c430 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:16:25 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/d5e1ce11be8f4342aa9a9dea00a9c430#d5e1ce11be8f4342aa9a9dea00a9c430 ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:

Or speech recognition in Windows and Office.

 

Microsoft doesn't spend any money on development or marketing in Europe.

Really? The adverts for Bing and Windows 7 are on constantly in Britain.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/34abbe02e0e843f1ba909dea00a9c439#34abbe02e0e843f1ba909dea00a9c439 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:31:46 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/34abbe02e0e843f1ba909dea00a9c439#34abbe02e0e843f1ba909dea00a9c439 rhm 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/rhm/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
rhm said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

Really? The adverts for Bing and Windows 7 are on constantly in Britain.

That's because they don't have to translate them. I've never seen a Microsoft commercial in my life.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/2c4c5249cd4b4e11a1969dea00a9c441#2c4c5249cd4b4e11a1969dea00a9c441 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:34:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/2c4c5249cd4b4e11a1969dea00a9c441#2c4c5249cd4b4e11a1969dea00a9c441 ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Well, as an outsider (non MS employee and US citizen) I'm not surprised by this at all.  I mean, if I were a company that was repeatedly fined Billions of $$ for doing business on a continent...I'd be reluctant to invest much more than the minimum going forward.  Of course, that's just my take on it. 

 

If MS were to invest in Zune or MC over in Europe, it might not be long before the EU would take them to task over more antitrust issues.

 Just my $.02

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/9cc1a61d403b4c9fa5219dea00a9c46d#9cc1a61d403b4c9fa5219dea00a9c46d Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:38:09 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/9cc1a61d403b4c9fa5219dea00a9c46d#9cc1a61d403b4c9fa5219dea00a9c46d HomerSimpian 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/HomerSimpian/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
rhm said:
*snip*

That's because they don't have to translate them. I've never seen a Microsoft commercial in my life.

I've seen some of of the Your Potential, Our Passion ones in the Netherlands. I've never seen a commercial for a specific MS product though.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e6c8c25a65e040c090289dea00a9c476#e6c8c25a65e040c090289dea00a9c476 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:44:56 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e6c8c25a65e040c090289dea00a9c476#e6c8c25a65e040c090289dea00a9c476 Sven Groot 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Sven Groot/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
HomerSimpian said:

Well, as an outsider (non MS employee and US citizen) I'm not surprised by this at all.  I mean, if I were a company that was repeatedly fined Billions of $$ for doing business on a continent...I'd be reluctant to invest much more than the minimum going forward.  Of course, that's just my take on it. 

 

If MS were to invest in Zune or MC over in Europe, it might not be long before the EU would take them to task over more antitrust issues.

 Just my $.02

 

The EU has more than 500,000,000 citizens. Let that number settle in for a moment.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/746d0086c3964ce581059dea00a9c481#746d0086c3964ce581059dea00a9c481 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:53:01 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/746d0086c3964ce581059dea00a9c481#746d0086c3964ce581059dea00a9c481 Bent Rasmussen 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/exoteric/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
rhm said:
*snip*

That's because they don't have to translate them. I've never seen a Microsoft commercial in my life.

Well they do translate it, it's clearly brittish english and not dubbed. But one does think. Maybee the bosses at Microsoft only speak english and understand english countries? Tongue Out

 

Microsoft doesn't spend any money on development or marketing in Europe.

 

And it's a shame! A real real shame! There is some marketing going on inside schools and on nerdy events and such. But no television , movie, supermarket marketing at all! It's a shame, and they should do something about it.

 

If Microsoft would have a developer office in europe working closely with european costumers. I would love to be a developper/tester there! That's why people love to work for microsoft. Most say "It's because of the impact you might have on the world because you are working on products everybody uses" , but for many products the world is the US from there point of view.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c0672825050549cf87949dea00a9c48d#c0672825050549cf87949dea00a9c48d Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:05:07 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c0672825050549cf87949dea00a9c48d#c0672825050549cf87949dea00a9c48d CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
exoteric said:
HomerSimpian said:
*snip*

The EU has more than 500,000,000 citizens. Let that number settle in for a moment.

Yes, that is a nice population.  But, if the respective governing bodies say otherwise, the populace is at a disadvantage.  Look at Google with China and, well, every company and their relationship with China.  Great market potential, but boy..that government.  Tricky game to play.  If the EU were more clear on what is/isn't acceptable, maybe there would be more MS development in Europe.  I don't know.  But seeing as how even Google doesn't escape the wrath of the EU at times what is a US based company to do?  Europe, from my  far away perspective, is very protective.

 

Again, I just throw this out there.  I don't claim to be an expert on this subject.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/de43b70ffc004b49a9359dea00a9c497#de43b70ffc004b49a9359dea00a9c497 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:15:24 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/de43b70ffc004b49a9359dea00a9c497#de43b70ffc004b49a9359dea00a9c497 HomerSimpian 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/HomerSimpian/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
exoteric said:
HomerSimpian said:
*snip*

The EU has more than 500,000,000 citizens. Let that number settle in for a moment.

The EU has more than 500,000,000 citizens. Let that number settle in for a moment.

That may be true, but the problem is, the EU is not one market. If you want to do TV, there's not one company that owns the rights for all of Europe. There's not one company that has music distribution rights for all of Europe. We all speak a different language, have different tax and IP laws, and until recently all had different currencies (and some still do).

 

Yes, it's a lot of people, but they're incredibly fragmented. You can't target all of them at once, you need to target two dozen tiny subgroups of that. And that, it seems, is just too much effort.

 

That's just my guess anyway. I don't think that the EU's fines have anything to do with it really, because this isn't something recent. It's always been that way.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/14bd8a72a196469db1de9dea00a9c4a3#14bd8a72a196469db1de9dea00a9c4a3 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:21:31 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/14bd8a72a196469db1de9dea00a9c4a3#14bd8a72a196469db1de9dea00a9c4a3 Sven Groot 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Sven Groot/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US I've seen plenty of Microsoft ads here. They recently had a huge IE ad campaign here. The trouble is that I don't care about advertising, I care about services, which are nowhere.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/13f9c12bf34d4b9c88b49dea00a9c4a9#13f9c12bf34d4b9c88b49dea00a9c4a9 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:29:41 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/13f9c12bf34d4b9c88b49dea00a9c4a9#13f9c12bf34d4b9c88b49dea00a9c4a9 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Sven Groot said:
exoteric said:
*snip*

That may be true, but the problem is, the EU is not one market. If you want to do TV, there's not one company that owns the rights for all of Europe. There's not one company that has music distribution rights for all of Europe. We all speak a different language, have different tax and IP laws, and until recently all had different currencies (and some still do).

 

Yes, it's a lot of people, but they're incredibly fragmented. You can't target all of them at once, you need to target two dozen tiny subgroups of that. And that, it seems, is just too much effort.

 

That's just my guess anyway. I don't think that the EU's fines have anything to do with it really, because this isn't something recent. It's always been that way.

If Apple can do it, so can Microsoft.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/a72e5734333c45e096fd9dea00a9c4b2#a72e5734333c45e096fd9dea00a9c4b2 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:39:48 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/a72e5734333c45e096fd9dea00a9c4b2#a72e5734333c45e096fd9dea00a9c4b2 ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Sven Groot said:
exoteric said:
*snip*

That may be true, but the problem is, the EU is not one market. If you want to do TV, there's not one company that owns the rights for all of Europe. There's not one company that has music distribution rights for all of Europe. We all speak a different language, have different tax and IP laws, and until recently all had different currencies (and some still do).

 

Yes, it's a lot of people, but they're incredibly fragmented. You can't target all of them at once, you need to target two dozen tiny subgroups of that. And that, it seems, is just too much effort.

 

That's just my guess anyway. I don't think that the EU's fines have anything to do with it really, because this isn't something recent. It's always been that way.

I agree, it's about the effort that is needed to launch something on Europe.

 

Maybe they could contact European Counsel directly? I mean most of those laws will become european anyway. And they must have some experience with the countries from Xbox partnerships.

 

It is worth the trouble, but somebody at Microsoft clearly disagrees.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3e9e2895eeff4bb2947b9dea00a9c4bd#3e9e2895eeff4bb2947b9dea00a9c4bd Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:40:01 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3e9e2895eeff4bb2947b9dea00a9c4bd#3e9e2895eeff4bb2947b9dea00a9c4bd CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US May they are just to embarrased about this still:

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5841cd594277438eb5a29dea00a9c4c3#5841cd594277438eb5a29dea00a9c4c3 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:45:24 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5841cd594277438eb5a29dea00a9c4c3#5841cd594277438eb5a29dea00a9c4c3 Árni Gunnar Ragnarsson 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Zeus/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
Sven Groot said:
*snip*

If Apple can do it, so can Microsoft.

Honestly, Apple can't do it that good either.

 

Apple has the advantage of having (a list of) stores who are 'Premium Resellers' and only get that title because they apply Apple's rules. So it is easy to 'ship' hardware. I however have never seen an add from apple on the TV. I have seen ad's about there products from other companiers, or even better, seen ad about "SMS 'win now' to 5847 to win an Iphone" ad.

 

For the iPhone launch they picked one of the worst Belgian mobile providers. And did not let anybody else sell them, alltough Belgium did not allow locked phones by law back then. (So the phones are unlocked and you can change the carrier, but only one carrier was allowed to sell them...)

 

Somehow the iTunes Gift cards did find there way into every medium to large shop we have in belgium. Right next to the prepaid phone cards.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/98ca47f240f4464482ef9dea00a9c4ce#98ca47f240f4464482ef9dea00a9c4ce Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:01:05 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/98ca47f240f4464482ef9dea00a9c4ce#98ca47f240f4464482ef9dea00a9c4ce CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

Honestly, Apple can't do it that good either.

 

Apple has the advantage of having (a list of) stores who are 'Premium Resellers' and only get that title because they apply Apple's rules. So it is easy to 'ship' hardware. I however have never seen an add from apple on the TV. I have seen ad's about there products from other companiers, or even better, seen ad about "SMS 'win now' to 5847 to win an Iphone" ad.

 

For the iPhone launch they picked one of the worst Belgian mobile providers. And did not let anybody else sell them, alltough Belgium did not allow locked phones by law back then. (So the phones are unlocked and you can change the carrier, but only one carrier was allowed to sell them...)

 

Somehow the iTunes Gift cards did find there way into every medium to large shop we have in belgium. Right next to the prepaid phone cards.

Doesn't matter how 'bad' Apple. Their iPod was faster available in Europe than the Zune. Same with iTunes.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/7e5edb37338b484894169dea00a9c4d9#7e5edb37338b484894169dea00a9c4d9 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:09:32 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/7e5edb37338b484894169dea00a9c4d9#7e5edb37338b484894169dea00a9c4d9 ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Zeus said:

May they are just to embarrased about this still:

 

Embarased? That looks like pretty impresive software to me ...

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e75e81f8cba34cac91e39dea00a9c4e2#e75e81f8cba34cac91e39dea00a9c4e2 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:15:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e75e81f8cba34cac91e39dea00a9c4e2#e75e81f8cba34cac91e39dea00a9c4e2 Ian Walker 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Ian2/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US It doesn't matter where software gets made from a logistics standpoint.  But it does matter if you're going to spread development across the world and lose the ability to walk into the office of X dev and talk about whatever.  Everyone who works at Microsoft came from somewhere, often from all around the world, this makes it more diverse.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/d649562567604a0997989dea00a9c4e9#d649562567604a0997989dea00a9c4e9 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:19:53 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/d649562567604a0997989dea00a9c4e9#d649562567604a0997989dea00a9c4e9 CreamFilling512 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CreamFilling512/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

Doesn't matter how 'bad' Apple. Their iPod was faster available in Europe than the Zune. Same with iTunes.

Well the Zune was never available in Europe so of course Apple is faster. But I do agree that most things Apple released recently did get a 'world' release. Like the new iPhone. It's okay there is some timedifference (like a month or 3). It people know it's comming they don't care that much.

 

Like the new Xbox, that is something Microsoft did good. Releasing it in June in the US and it came to Belgium on 15th of July. This is the way it is sepossed to be. (refering to 'Microsoft did good' is a bit wrong here because it was the Xbox team and microsoft is really big but you know what I mean).

 

The Zune was never released in Europe because "It would cost to much to bring it to market compaired to what can be profitted from it" (Heard this from an official Microsoft Employee, and he's probbaly right).

 

Rumor has it WP7 will be first launched in Europe and then in the US. This might be a good start! Also, the Windows Live Beta went out in European languages (including dutch) because they know it is used a lot over here. Thats good to.

 

But other software and 'services' not so much. I guess it has to do with DRM and copyright. The Zune Video service could be booming right now if it had the content and was promoted the right way. But it's not on Xbox by default (you have to download it) and it is not on 'Internet TV' in media center. The local website is a mess. Even film trailers aren't accesible. Here I was thinking we look at the same movies in Europe (might be at different time but still).

 

Zune and Media Center are a mess in Europe. I really hope they get there act togetter for the WP7 launch because otherwize it might fail misserbly.

 

Disclaimer: Somehow I always get really frustrated when on this subject...

 

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/88cf8eb542204ca7aa1b9dea00a9c4fa#88cf8eb542204ca7aa1b9dea00a9c4fa Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:20:09 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/88cf8eb542204ca7aa1b9dea00a9c4fa#88cf8eb542204ca7aa1b9dea00a9c4fa CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CreamFilling512 said:

It doesn't matter where software gets made from a logistics standpoint.  But it does matter if you're going to spread development across the world and lose the ability to walk into the office of X dev and talk about whatever.  Everyone who works at Microsoft came from somewhere, often from all around the world, this makes it more diverse.

It matters because if you go home as a developper and notice "Damn it would be cool if I could do that" or "It's a shame the local public broadcasting agency is not available" or "Who the hell translated this?".

 

If you don't have the troubles at home (and in the US you don't have them because they work closely with partners) you will be less likely to provide a decent sollution to the problem. Somehow a developer living in the US working on a product for Brussels will more quickly say 'Its good enough' or 'It's sort of what we have here'. Especcially if you are working with local CONTENT you might have something 'nobody will every watch this' , but it might be the most popular show in Brussels for all you know.

 

Location matters because of localisation. For example the many many point and comma buggs that can be found in Bing Maps working with longitude and latitude. (here € 12,450 is  12 euro and 45 cents , not 12450 thousand euro)

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/4d8c48ee502f436b9bd09dea00a9c507#4d8c48ee502f436b9bd09dea00a9c507 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:26:41 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/4d8c48ee502f436b9bd09dea00a9c507#4d8c48ee502f436b9bd09dea00a9c507 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
CreamFilling512 said:
*snip*

It matters because if you go home as a developper and notice "Damn it would be cool if I could do that" or "It's a shame the local public broadcasting agency is not available" or "Who the hell translated this?".

 

If you don't have the troubles at home (and in the US you don't have them because they work closely with partners) you will be less likely to provide a decent sollution to the problem. Somehow a developer living in the US working on a product for Brussels will more quickly say 'Its good enough' or 'It's sort of what we have here'. Especcially if you are working with local CONTENT you might have something 'nobody will every watch this' , but it might be the most popular show in Brussels for all you know.

 

Location matters because of localisation. For example the many many point and comma buggs that can be found in Bing Maps working with longitude and latitude. (here € 12,450 is  12 euro and 45 cents , not 12450 thousand euro)

Sure but it's a bug.  I'm sure the design is that its supposed to support all currency formats and has complete globalization.  MS platforms usually have pretty good globalization support, look at .NET's CultureInfo for example.  Have you ever seen Windows or Office in a right-to-left script?  The entire UI gets mirrored, and thats just for Hebrew and Arabic.  That's going to pretty drastic lengths for localization IMO.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/42cf00f39eae47c582d79dea00a9c516#42cf00f39eae47c582d79dea00a9c516 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:40:50 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/42cf00f39eae47c582d79dea00a9c516#42cf00f39eae47c582d79dea00a9c516 CreamFilling512 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CreamFilling512/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CreamFilling512 said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

Sure but it's a bug.  I'm sure the design is that its supposed to support all currency formats and has complete globalization.  MS platforms usually have pretty good globalization support, look at .NET's CultureInfo for example.  Have you ever seen Windows or Office in a right-to-left script?  The entire UI gets mirrored, and thats just for Hebrew and Arabic.  That's going to pretty drastic lengths for localization IMO.

I know it's a bug. But it's a bug that only surfaces when somebody uses a computer over here. I'm pretty sure it would be fixed by now (reported it for the first time in februari of this year) when it would have been a problem in the US and people at the office where confronted with it every day like I am here...

 

But for content and partnerships like they have in the US with broadcasting agencies location matters.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/56b046e5f9bb4e5891ad9dea00a9c521#56b046e5f9bb4e5891ad9dea00a9c521 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:44:37 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/56b046e5f9bb4e5891ad9dea00a9c521#56b046e5f9bb4e5891ad9dea00a9c521 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:

Or speech recognition in Windows and Office.

 

Microsoft doesn't spend any money on development or marketing in Europe.

This is completely untrue. It's not as simple as you think for us to release the exact same things anywhere in the world. The US has its own set of business rules and regulations, as does Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Greece, etc... It's pretty amazing that we are able to navigate these complex regulatory and cultural seas as well as we do, Is there room for improvement? Of course there is. Your frustration is an obvious indication of this fact.

 

C

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/bd661604e2ed410396a69dea00a9c52a#bd661604e2ed410396a69dea00a9c52a Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:01:23 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/bd661604e2ed410396a69dea00a9c52a#bd661604e2ed410396a69dea00a9c52a Charles 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Charles/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Charles said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

This is completely untrue. It's not as simple as you think for us to release the exact same things anywhere in the world. The US has its own set of business rules and regulations, as does Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Greece, etc... It's pretty amazing that we are able to navigate these complex regulatory and cultural seas as well as we do, Is there room for improvement? Of course there is. Your frustration is an obvious indication of this fact.

 

C

Charles, is there any chance to interview the Zune or Media center team about the problems they have lisensing stuff or setting up partnerships in Europe?

 

My blog post clearly indicates 2 points that bring up questions. Why is internet TV not available in Europe? (at least zune content and some public content) and Will Zune Social be completely rolled out to Europe for WP7?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/4796718045784435bbec9dea00a9c535#4796718045784435bbec9dea00a9c535 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:08:03 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/4796718045784435bbec9dea00a9c535#4796718045784435bbec9dea00a9c535 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Charles said:
*snip*

Charles, is there any chance to interview the Zune or Media center team about the problems they have lisensing stuff or setting up partnerships in Europe?

 

My blog post clearly indicates 2 points that bring up questions. Why is internet TV not available in Europe? (at least zune content and some public content) and Will Zune Social be completely rolled out to Europe for WP7?

How about I forward your questions to the right folks. There is no need for an interview, right?
C

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/a5e7cfcc0e8a42e5956f9dea00a9c53d#a5e7cfcc0e8a42e5956f9dea00a9c53d Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:16:43 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/a5e7cfcc0e8a42e5956f9dea00a9c53d#a5e7cfcc0e8a42e5956f9dea00a9c53d Charles 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Charles/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Charles said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

How about I forward your questions to the right folks. There is no need for an interview, right?
C

That would be fine to. I just like seeing people Tongue Out Thanks again Charles.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/20d400b5d880418eac0c9dea00a9c545#20d400b5d880418eac0c9dea00a9c545 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:18:27 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/20d400b5d880418eac0c9dea00a9c545#20d400b5d880418eac0c9dea00a9c545 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Charles said:
*snip*

Charles, is there any chance to interview the Zune or Media center team about the problems they have lisensing stuff or setting up partnerships in Europe?

 

My blog post clearly indicates 2 points that bring up questions. Why is internet TV not available in Europe? (at least zune content and some public content) and Will Zune Social be completely rolled out to Europe for WP7?

http://www.zdnet.be/news/111150/microsoft-klaagt-over-belgische-breedbandlimieten/

 

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/99be68e156214edabdc49dea00a9c54e#99be68e156214edabdc49dea00a9c54e Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:03:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/99be68e156214edabdc49dea00a9c54e#99be68e156214edabdc49dea00a9c54e ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Charles said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

How about I forward your questions to the right folks. There is no need for an interview, right?
C

Put Steve Ballmer in CC. I think the problem is not only with the product teams.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/4a3515f29f0e4d09a0219dea00a9c555#4a3515f29f0e4d09a0219dea00a9c555 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:05:31 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/4a3515f29f0e4d09a0219dea00a9c555#4a3515f29f0e4d09a0219dea00a9c555 ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US 2 other examples of neglected products in Europe: Bing and the online features of the Xbox 360.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b687abb61af14dd8abea9dea00a9c55c#b687abb61af14dd8abea9dea00a9c55c Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:11:47 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b687abb61af14dd8abea9dea00a9c55c#b687abb61af14dd8abea9dea00a9c55c ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:

2 other examples of neglected products in Europe: Bing and the online features of the Xbox 360.

Don't you guys get Sky support on Xbox 360?  That's not available in the US.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/94ffa479b5f2428e87a29dea00a9c563#94ffa479b5f2428e87a29dea00a9c563 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:35:19 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/94ffa479b5f2428e87a29dea00a9c563#94ffa479b5f2428e87a29dea00a9c563 CreamFilling512 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CreamFilling512/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CreamFilling512 said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

Don't you guys get Sky support on Xbox 360?  That's not available in the US.

Never heard of Sky.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/8614c7b72bb3492488289dea00a9c56b#8614c7b72bb3492488289dea00a9c56b Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:39:40 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/8614c7b72bb3492488289dea00a9c56b#8614c7b72bb3492488289dea00a9c56b ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CreamFilling512 said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

Don't you guys get Sky support on Xbox 360?  That's not available in the US.

In Britain we get Sky, (pay for satellite TV for those not in the know), but we still need to pay extra to get it on the Xbox 360, even if we have a Sky subscription.

 

I'd much rather have BBC iPlayer on the Xbox 360.  Luckily both the Wii and PS3 support it instead.  But it's still annoying to turn the PS3 on just to stream some TV off iPlayer when the Xbox is used for everything else including Media Center and recorded TV.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/f4d81e3d5de54587ad789dea00a9c575#f4d81e3d5de54587ad789dea00a9c575 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:47:02 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/f4d81e3d5de54587ad789dea00a9c575#f4d81e3d5de54587ad789dea00a9c575 Paul Smith 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/daSmirnov/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CreamFilling512 said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

Don't you guys get Sky support on Xbox 360?  That's not available in the US.

That's only in Britain.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/10a1e059ea374327ac5a9dea00a9c57d#10a1e059ea374327ac5a9dea00a9c57d Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:05:13 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/10a1e059ea374327ac5a9dea00a9c57d#10a1e059ea374327ac5a9dea00a9c57d Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

http://www.zdnet.be/news/111150/microsoft-klaagt-over-belgische-breedbandlimieten/

 

 

Well that is one could thing that has happened. The fact the 2 main online providers in belgium (Telenet and Belgacom) updated there limits, in the period of may 2010 and july 2010, was (partly) because of Microsoft. I know this sounds like fanboyisme, but I have this from a Microsoft Benelux representative. (being a Microsoft Student Partner got me that connection)

 

Just a bit of topic. The setup is pretty crasy. Telenet also provides Digital Cable subscription with a video rental service build in (much like TiVo in the US is presume). That service works over an ethernet cable plugged in to the back of the set-op-box. It runs trough a switch they provide AND the cable router they provide makes sure the Set-Up box is given a PUBLIC ip-address. So if you have cable and internet from Telenet you get 2 public IP addresses assigned to you. One for computing and one for the set-op-box. Here's the kicker, the public ip for the set-up box has no bandwith limitation to make sure you can order as much movies and content from there service, and the computers public ip (converted to multiple computers use via my own NAT router) does have a limit of 60GB per month. That is up from 30GB per month since the first of July 2010. Do they think we are stupid? Why would i not just plug my NAT routers WAN port into the public IP ment for my set-up-box? That would lift up my limits (altough they might detect the fact that the public IP does not have the right MAC address). But still....

 

Anyway, Microsoft brought up that limit because they want to launch the Zune service. But just so you know, the most exciting title on the Zune Movie service for Xbox in Belgium currently is 'Sherlock Holmes'....

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e7dfb13a594c4457bbac9dea00a9c590#e7dfb13a594c4457bbac9dea00a9c590 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:13:51 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e7dfb13a594c4457bbac9dea00a9c590#e7dfb13a594c4457bbac9dea00a9c590 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
daSmirnov said:
CreamFilling512 said:
*snip*

In Britain we get Sky, (pay for satellite TV for those not in the know), but we still need to pay extra to get it on the Xbox 360, even if we have a Sky subscription.

 

I'd much rather have BBC iPlayer on the Xbox 360.  Luckily both the Wii and PS3 support it instead.  But it's still annoying to turn the PS3 on just to stream some TV off iPlayer when the Xbox is used for everything else including Media Center and recorded TV.

Indeed, there needs to be a better connection with Public National Broadcasters like BBC , VRT , NOS , FR1....  Al these broadcasters currently have some kind of online offering. Microsoft needs to contact those broadcasters and make them aware of the posibilities with the Xbox. The posibilities that are not tide to local set-up-boxes proriatary stuff. Develop the BBC iPlayer for Xbox and use the same software all over Europe! (if they change there license because not everything right now works abroad).

 

If microsoft is serieus about Media Center becomming the Living Room hub and want to take over the set-up-boxes they need to:

  • Provide the same Local stuff all the vender specific boxes have right now
  • Provide more stuff from other countries
  • Bring decent Movie titles to Zune Marketplace
  • Promote Media Center more via television
  • Create deals with local cable venders to run Media Center on there set-up-boxes instead of the stupid slow java interfaces! (at least in Belgium). This means the cable vender most have a way to show his logo inside medea center as a start. Because these venders don't want to loose there presence in the living room households. That is the big task

It seems Microsoft want to get Media center of the ground (they did announce a TV with build in media center PC , and some tv's with media center extender capabilities). So go that extra mile and deliver real value.

 

Also, they need to give a clear signal. Also, what is MediaRoom? Is the Media Center's sucessor , or the version for professionals like BBC to use? It's confusing... I'm sure if one country has a complete experience end to end, lots and lots of broadcatsers will want to get there content to the platform. It's just, they need to get the ball rolling...

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b90ecb7099704be4b9d19dea00a9c5a5#b90ecb7099704be4b9d19dea00a9c5a5 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:26:03 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b90ecb7099704be4b9d19dea00a9c5a5#b90ecb7099704be4b9d19dea00a9c5a5 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
daSmirnov said:
CreamFilling512 said:
*snip*

In Britain we get Sky, (pay for satellite TV for those not in the know), but we still need to pay extra to get it on the Xbox 360, even if we have a Sky subscription.

 

I'd much rather have BBC iPlayer on the Xbox 360.  Luckily both the Wii and PS3 support it instead.  But it's still annoying to turn the PS3 on just to stream some TV off iPlayer when the Xbox is used for everything else including Media Center and recorded TV.

I seem to remember there were rumors of this and that the BBC said no because Microsoft wanted to develop a custom UI to fit in with the Xbox. I don't know if there's any truth in this though.

 

Are there apps for the ps3 & wii now or is it still through the browser?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/59bff47f711e4ef7a04b9dea00a9c5b1#59bff47f711e4ef7a04b9dea00a9c5b1 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:57:48 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/59bff47f711e4ef7a04b9dea00a9c5b1#59bff47f711e4ef7a04b9dea00a9c5b1 webmonkey 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/webmonkey/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
webmonkey said:
daSmirnov said:
*snip*

I seem to remember there were rumors of this and that the BBC said no because Microsoft wanted to develop a custom UI to fit in with the Xbox. I don't know if there's any truth in this though.

 

Are there apps for the ps3 & wii now or is it still through the browser?

The reason why there is no iPlayer for the XBox 360 is because Microsoft wanted to make the iPlayer only available to paying Xbox Live subscribers.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/178ec9c29f97444295979dea00a9c5bb#178ec9c29f97444295979dea00a9c5bb Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:41:18 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/178ec9c29f97444295979dea00a9c5bb#178ec9c29f97444295979dea00a9c5bb ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
webmonkey said:
*snip*

The reason why there is no iPlayer for the XBox 360 is because Microsoft wanted to make the iPlayer only available to paying Xbox Live subscribers.

Still,

No Xbox costumer <=> Only Gold Costumers , it's a shame... They should have done it. It would open up eyes and maybe even be jump for people to go gold and experience 'premium content'

 

Ps: good night to you to Wink

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/0fafc2b2ff7546a8a8709dea00a9c5c3#0fafc2b2ff7546a8a8709dea00a9c5c3 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:46:05 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/0fafc2b2ff7546a8a8709dea00a9c5c3#0fafc2b2ff7546a8a8709dea00a9c5c3 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US could not agree more..

consider bing.. its still beta in sweden and its been out for years

that is just lazy.. if it takes that long to push a site though the cdn then microsoft has some serious problems. Tongue Out

 

i havent seen a single ms ad here in sweden since the .net 1 ads from the 90ties, and they wonder why market share is droping. yea, what a mystery.

 

xbox support outside the us is atrocious ofcource, i cant imagine why any sane person would pay a dime for xbox live outside the us.. Tongue Out

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/75e7b6ecd3234562a06b9dea00a9c5cb#75e7b6ecd3234562a06b9dea00a9c5cb Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:14:04 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/75e7b6ecd3234562a06b9dea00a9c5cb#75e7b6ecd3234562a06b9dea00a9c5cb Allan Lindqvist 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/aL_/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
aL_ said:

could not agree more..

consider bing.. its still beta in sweden and its been out for years

that is just lazy.. if it takes that long to push a site though the cdn then microsoft has some serious problems. Tongue Out

 

i havent seen a single ms ad here in sweden since the .net 1 ads from the 90ties, and they wonder why market share is droping. yea, what a mystery.

 

xbox support outside the us is atrocious ofcource, i cant imagine why any sane person would pay a dime for xbox live outside the us.. Tongue Out

Bing is another one of those things. In the US, bing is great. Over here, there's not even video search. No maps, no travel... I'm looking at it now and it's like looking at Altavista back in the nineties, except with image search. I realise the whole shopping etc. thing requires heavy localisation and deals with stores and such, which takes time, but if Media Center or Windows Speech Recognition are an example that'll simply never happen.

 

I thought of another one: WP7. No localised version coming out here until well into next year. Also no app store. They talked about how maybe they're going to release the English version over here, but you wouldn't be able to buy anything on the app store because there won't be an app store. You might be able to download stuff from the US/English app store, but only if it's free. No paid apps. Not until an unspecified time in 2011. Which usually means a year after the general release date. What a way to push a new platform!

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c2568dd76eed4d5f92139dea00a9c5d8#c2568dd76eed4d5f92139dea00a9c5d8 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 08:25:52 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c2568dd76eed4d5f92139dea00a9c5d8#c2568dd76eed4d5f92139dea00a9c5d8 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Do you guys agree that a European Developper campus would be a good start to solve these problems?

 

Like Bing it's hard to make it work in other languages. But that is no reason not de work on it! Bing is the default home page if you download IE over here. Why would you do that if the experience is not what you want people to have?

 

Lots of reasons we are so frustrated is because microsoft does not seem to try to make deals and partner up with local companies. The companies who provide our day to day entertainment. In America you have ESPN comming to Xbox , Hulu , Netflix ... , in Europe we have similar channels like Eurosport , BBC , National Geographic and locally decent every broadcasting station has there own 'On Demand' service. Talk to them and explain the benifit of Xbox content access. Most people indeed allready have a set-up-box from the local provider providing on demand services. But the Xbox is probably not always connected to the main TV like the set-up-box is. An Xbox in a childs room could then be used to stream content to the second tv. And there a lot of those setups!

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5e57cfec944c4465aa209dea00a9c5e3#5e57cfec944c4465aa209dea00a9c5e3 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:27:02 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5e57cfec944c4465aa209dea00a9c5e3#5e57cfec944c4465aa209dea00a9c5e3 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:

Do you guys agree that a European Developper campus would be a good start to solve these problems?

 

Like Bing it's hard to make it work in other languages. But that is no reason not de work on it! Bing is the default home page if you download IE over here. Why would you do that if the experience is not what you want people to have?

 

Lots of reasons we are so frustrated is because microsoft does not seem to try to make deals and partner up with local companies. The companies who provide our day to day entertainment. In America you have ESPN comming to Xbox , Hulu , Netflix ... , in Europe we have similar channels like Eurosport , BBC , National Geographic and locally decent every broadcasting station has there own 'On Demand' service. Talk to them and explain the benifit of Xbox content access. Most people indeed allready have a set-up-box from the local provider providing on demand services. But the Xbox is probably not always connected to the main TV like the set-up-box is. An Xbox in a childs room could then be used to stream content to the second tv. And there a lot of those setups!

Not sure if a developer campus would solve things. The technology is already there, it's just the business side that's completely lacking. 

For consumer-oriented stuff, anyway.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/a39e4e1811d646088f6a9dea00a9c5f0#a39e4e1811d646088f6a9dea00a9c5f0 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:35:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/a39e4e1811d646088f6a9dea00a9c5f0#a39e4e1811d646088f6a9dea00a9c5f0 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

Not sure if a developer campus would solve things. The technology is already there, it's just the business side that's completely lacking. 

For consumer-oriented stuff, anyway.

There would always be some developper stuff going on. Creating the Interface for Xbox/Media Center and talking to the right endpoints for the service. Also setting up the broadcasters service to be able to talk to the UI.

 

It would be good those developpers have direct contact with the business people. A good workflow makes half of a good product.

The should be a Microsoft Europe instead of Microsoft Benelux , Microsoft France , Microsoft Spain.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5624ff8d0c49456398879dea00a9c5fb#5624ff8d0c49456398879dea00a9c5fb Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:47:25 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5624ff8d0c49456398879dea00a9c5fb#5624ff8d0c49456398879dea00a9c5fb CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US As a brit myself, there are a few things I should mention.

 

Firstly, the video service on Xbox is absolute crud.  The worst selection of films you could ever imagine, no tv shows at all.

Media Centre and Xbox get support for Sky Player, which is a small selection of live channels, catchup and video on demand, which you need to be a sky subscriber to recieve, or pay for an online only subscription.

 

Media centre does not support Internet TV, but has a service called msn video, which seems never to be updated, and has a selection of video on demand programming.

 

The BBC is our national broadcaster.  They also have the best online service bar none in the UK.  It is provided only to UK citizens for free without any kind of advertising, because the cost of running it comes from a form of taxation called the License Fee.  If you own a television, radio, or an online device which supports viewing BBC iPlayer.

 

As part of its policy of providing access to iPlayer content on as many devices as possible, for free to License Fee payers, it has iPhone, Android, apps in development, awaiting permission to launch.  It has also created a unique Wii client, and an Adobe Air powered time-limited download service, as well as the iPlayer website itself.

The BBC have been working with Microsoft for years on the iPlayer features, but when it came to the Xbox version of iPlayer, they could not force people to pay again for an Xbox Live Gold subscription to access it, and Microsoft refused to budge.  There was talk of a Windows Media Centre version of iPlayer, but this has not emerged.  I do not think Microsoft are trying hard enough to support the BBC in this, because it is essentially a non-commercial prospect.

 

Now onto other Microsoft shortcomings in the UK/Europe.

 

  • Zune HD never released.
  • Zune service not yet available.
  • Incomprehensible Zune Software restrictions (which I have to bypass for it to be fully functional) I can understand there being no Zune music yet - with deals to be done and windows phones to be released - by why no access to podcasts, and the existing miserable movie selections.
  • Microsoft Stores show no signs of ever leaving the US.
  • Higher prices to pay for everything.
  • Apart from MS Research, and a few game studios, Microsoft have no developers in the UK, and I doubt any outside of Redmond.  The computer was invented here, so why is it so undervalued!?!?
  • Bing!  Bing maps were recently updated with a new design, but check the map, the UK is the ONLY location still using the old Map designs.
  • No Bing map Street Views either!

 

I know there is probably many more issues in the rest of europe, but I cant comment on those.  The UK has still got a strong brand loyalty to Microsoft, but we get such a raw deal in the consumer space.  Windows Phone is out soon, the first product since the Xbox 360 in the UK from Microsoft for the consumer.  The UK gets it first in October, but what will the various services look like that are needed to support the phones.  

 

  • Will we get a FULL zune music, video, podcast, social experience?  
  • Will zune connect to windows live?  
  • Will bing maps be fully featured for all those local and web searches?  
  • How much more will UK buyers have to spend for the app marketplace?  
  • Will we be able to use Microsoft Points on Windows Phone 7, Zune Marketplace, and Xbox?  
  • Will we get British English translations for words like colour and favourites, not even Windows 7 gives us localization in British English?
  • Will the UK get a strong marketing campaign for WP7?

 

So many questions, which we need to ask, because of the way we have experienced Microsoft in the past.  If we can ever get to a point where we can hear a Microsoft announcement, and not have to wonder if we will ever see the product in our country, will be the day Microsoft starts to really establish themselves in the consumer space, and will earn mind-share from their users.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b9764260afac4d29aa129dea00a9c618#b9764260afac4d29aa129dea00a9c618 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:51:48 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b9764260afac4d29aa129dea00a9c618#b9764260afac4d29aa129dea00a9c618 Martin Anderson 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/mdtauk/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
mdtauk said:

As a brit myself, there are a few things I should mention.

 

Firstly, the video service on Xbox is absolute crud.  The worst selection of films you could ever imagine, no tv shows at all.

Media Centre and Xbox get support for Sky Player, which is a small selection of live channels, catchup and video on demand, which you need to be a sky subscriber to recieve, or pay for an online only subscription.

 

Media centre does not support Internet TV, but has a service called msn video, which seems never to be updated, and has a selection of video on demand programming.

 

The BBC is our national broadcaster.  They also have the best online service bar none in the UK.  It is provided only to UK citizens for free without any kind of advertising, because the cost of running it comes from a form of taxation called the License Fee.  If you own a television, radio, or an online device which supports viewing BBC iPlayer.

 

As part of its policy of providing access to iPlayer content on as many devices as possible, for free to License Fee payers, it has iPhone, Android, apps in development, awaiting permission to launch.  It has also created a unique Wii client, and an Adobe Air powered time-limited download service, as well as the iPlayer website itself.

The BBC have been working with Microsoft for years on the iPlayer features, but when it came to the Xbox version of iPlayer, they could not force people to pay again for an Xbox Live Gold subscription to access it, and Microsoft refused to budge.  There was talk of a Windows Media Centre version of iPlayer, but this has not emerged.  I do not think Microsoft are trying hard enough to support the BBC in this, because it is essentially a non-commercial prospect.

 

Now onto other Microsoft shortcomings in the UK/Europe.

 

  • Zune HD never released.
  • Zune service not yet available.
  • Incomprehensible Zune Software restrictions (which I have to bypass for it to be fully functional) I can understand there being no Zune music yet - with deals to be done and windows phones to be released - by why no access to podcasts, and the existing miserable movie selections.
  • Microsoft Stores show no signs of ever leaving the US.
  • Higher prices to pay for everything.
  • Apart from MS Research, and a few game studios, Microsoft have no developers in the UK, and I doubt any outside of Redmond.  The computer was invented here, so why is it so undervalued!?!?
  • Bing!  Bing maps were recently updated with a new design, but check the map, the UK is the ONLY location still using the old Map designs.
  • No Bing map Street Views either!

 

I know there is probably many more issues in the rest of europe, but I cant comment on those.  The UK has still got a strong brand loyalty to Microsoft, but we get such a raw deal in the consumer space.  Windows Phone is out soon, the first product since the Xbox 360 in the UK from Microsoft for the consumer.  The UK gets it first in October, but what will the various services look like that are needed to support the phones.  

 

  • Will we get a FULL zune music, video, podcast, social experience?  
  • Will zune connect to windows live?  
  • Will bing maps be fully featured for all those local and web searches?  
  • How much more will UK buyers have to spend for the app marketplace?  
  • Will we be able to use Microsoft Points on Windows Phone 7, Zune Marketplace, and Xbox?  
  • Will we get British English translations for words like colour and favourites, not even Windows 7 gives us localization in British English?
  • Will the UK get a strong marketing campaign for WP7?

 

So many questions, which we need to ask, because of the way we have experienced Microsoft in the past.  If we can ever get to a point where we can hear a Microsoft announcement, and not have to wonder if we will ever see the product in our country, will be the day Microsoft starts to really establish themselves in the consumer space, and will earn mind-share from their users.

I agree, it's a real shame and something needs to be done about it.


So many questions, which we need to ask, because of the way we have experienced Microsoft in the past.  If we can ever get to a point where we can hear a Microsoft announcement, and not have to wonder if we will ever see the product in our country, will be the day Microsoft starts to really establish themselves in the consumer space, and will earn mind-share from their users.

 

@Charles: if you locate the right person. The questions mdtauk asked in the fat bulletted list are also ones that are dying to get answered. And since we didn't really hear anything about it. I'm pretty sure it is going to be bad news...

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/0c457eb1d81c4ca8b0139dea00a9c634#0c457eb1d81c4ca8b0139dea00a9c634 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:58:50 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/0c457eb1d81c4ca8b0139dea00a9c634#0c457eb1d81c4ca8b0139dea00a9c634 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Charles said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

How about I forward your questions to the right folks. There is no need for an interview, right?
C

Actually, I'd be pretty interested in an interview.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/8d3eca01579c4ba88a1c9dea00a9c63c#8d3eca01579c4ba88a1c9dea00a9c63c Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:03:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/8d3eca01579c4ba88a1c9dea00a9c63c#8d3eca01579c4ba88a1c9dea00a9c63c Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
Charles said:
*snip*

Actually, I'd be pretty interested in an interview.

The question is 'Who would you interview?' , who is resposible for European launches , events , marketing and business deals with local broadcasters? I think there is no such person.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/1a843e5d56ee49bba8bf9dea00a9c645#1a843e5d56ee49bba8bf9dea00a9c645 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:18:25 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/1a843e5d56ee49bba8bf9dea00a9c645#1a843e5d56ee49bba8bf9dea00a9c645 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US I could not agree more with you, but I think there is much more to the problem than just the Microsoft approach (if something works in the US then we might export it eventually): think about copyrights and rights for digital media, think about the release schedule for movies for example. We are moving toward a global economy, when will movies and TV series available worldwide simultaneously (oh I forgot, here in Europe we cannot even agree on the color of signposts for highways, forget a global copyrights system)?

 

What frustrates me the most about many Microsoft products though is not just global availability, is the mixing of the concept of language and locale. The language should be always selectable independently from the location settings, but this is too often not the case: why zune.net and xbox.com have to be in the language of the billing country?

 

And selling three proofing tool languages with the MS Office programs is a joke: they should all be included in the installation media.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/1ab4dac3404440f6b36f9dea00a9c652#1ab4dac3404440f6b36f9dea00a9c652 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:18:32 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/1ab4dac3404440f6b36f9dea00a9c652#1ab4dac3404440f6b36f9dea00a9c652 Gio 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/giovanni/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Bas said:
*snip*

The question is 'Who would you interview?' , who is resposible for European launches , events , marketing and business deals with local broadcasters? I think there is no such person.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/courtois/?tab=biography

This guy would be a start.

 

I wanted to look at Microsoft EMEA's corporate bio's, but that link leads to a page that doesn't exist. IRONY!

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b9c026b920c349c082c99dea00a9c65c#b9c026b920c349c082c99dea00a9c65c Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:37:19 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/b9c026b920c349c082c99dea00a9c65c#b9c026b920c349c082c99dea00a9c65c Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/courtois/?tab=biography

This guy would be a start.

 

I wanted to look at Microsoft EMEA's corporate bio's, but that link leads to a page that doesn't exist. IRONY!

Channel 9 interviews are more about talking about technology and architectures and code. Not so much about 'putting people on the spot'. It would have to be a carefull interview, and the questions would have to be given to this person at forhand.

 

I mean it's more easy to interview people about the new product they are launching then interview them about a failure, without any good news to make you forget the failure. Look at the Rev9 interview, we bashed a lot about the current C9 but there was no video where a person accually admitted he made a mistake untill the Rev9 was released and they could say "We did a bad job at some points in v4 , but look now we have this and this in place to fix those problems"

 

A C9 interview should not be like a conversation with your boss (altough client is king), it should not be a public confession of where you went wrong. That is for internal politics.

 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to hear that person talk about the plans for Europe. But we need to make sure not to be like we are going head to head with this. Spark a conversation, tell us why it is so hard to get products launched in Europe. Tell us where you feel you could have done better.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/880c41ccfabd42058dae9dea00a9c66a#880c41ccfabd42058dae9dea00a9c66a Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:45:43 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/880c41ccfabd42058dae9dea00a9c66a#880c41ccfabd42058dae9dea00a9c66a CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Well, at least Germany gets bombarded by MS ads.

 

The German TV station "Kabel 1" has produced together with Microsoft tons of really bad Star Trek spoofs, featuring Internet Explorer 8:

 

Witness the horror:

 

 

 

 

 

There are much more...

 

They get broadcasted together with Star Trek movies/shows.

 

Not to forget the dreadful "7 seconds" ads:

 

 

So, the next time you want more MS ads in your country, be careful what you wish for....

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/95509eb848d24ec2b2729dea00a9c675#95509eb848d24ec2b2729dea00a9c675 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:53:00 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/95509eb848d24ec2b2729dea00a9c675#95509eb848d24ec2b2729dea00a9c675 wastingtimewithforums 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/wastingtimewithforums/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Bas said:
*snip*

Channel 9 interviews are more about talking about technology and architectures and code. Not so much about 'putting people on the spot'. It would have to be a carefull interview, and the questions would have to be given to this person at forhand.

 

I mean it's more easy to interview people about the new product they are launching then interview them about a failure, without any good news to make you forget the failure. Look at the Rev9 interview, we bashed a lot about the current C9 but there was no video where a person accually admitted he made a mistake untill the Rev9 was released and they could say "We did a bad job at some points in v4 , but look now we have this and this in place to fix those problems"

 

A C9 interview should not be like a conversation with your boss (altough client is king), it should not be a public confession of where you went wrong. That is for internal politics.

 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to hear that person talk about the plans for Europe. But we need to make sure not to be like we are going head to head with this. Spark a conversation, tell us why it is so hard to get products launched in Europe. Tell us where you feel you could have done better.

I would not suggest pressuring anyone.  However I would like to get answers to all the questions.  And if for whatever reason they are not able to answer a specific question, could we at least know why they can not answer it.

 

If we asked about the full Music selection being available in Europe, and they say "We cannot answer that at this moment".  I think its fair to ask why they can't answer.

 

The rest of the world has barely heard of Zune, and that's a shame.  Kin was non-existent, and so far, Windows Phone 7 has no presence at all.  Bing gets new features, and it is not reported, or advertised.  There is no one single place in any European cities to go to for Microsoft related products or services.

 

This is something Microsoft has to address, especially if the cloud is to ever be a success.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/973decc82a424d12bf2d9dea00a9c687#973decc82a424d12bf2d9dea00a9c687 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:55:23 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/973decc82a424d12bf2d9dea00a9c687#973decc82a424d12bf2d9dea00a9c687 Martin Anderson 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/mdtauk/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
wastingtimewithforums said:

Well, at least Germany gets bombarded by MS ads.

 

The German TV station "Kabel 1" has produced together with Microsoft tons of really bad Star Trek spoofs, featuring Internet Explorer 8:

 

Witness the horror:

 

 

 

 

 

There are much more...

 

They get broadcasted together with Star Trek movies/shows.

 

Not to forget the dreadful "7 seconds" ads:

 

 

So, the next time you want more MS ads in your country, be careful what you wish for....

The internet explorer ads might be bad. But my guess is the Windows 7 , 7 second adds would do good here in Belgium. But it might just be because microsoft feels like "We sell enough of Windows 7 via word of mouth, we don't need advertising".

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e7ee3a8975e34c9ebeda9dea00a9c693#e7ee3a8975e34c9ebeda9dea00a9c693 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:03:09 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e7ee3a8975e34c9ebeda9dea00a9c693#e7ee3a8975e34c9ebeda9dea00a9c693 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Bas said:
*snip*

Channel 9 interviews are more about talking about technology and architectures and code. Not so much about 'putting people on the spot'. It would have to be a carefull interview, and the questions would have to be given to this person at forhand.

 

I mean it's more easy to interview people about the new product they are launching then interview them about a failure, without any good news to make you forget the failure. Look at the Rev9 interview, we bashed a lot about the current C9 but there was no video where a person accually admitted he made a mistake untill the Rev9 was released and they could say "We did a bad job at some points in v4 , but look now we have this and this in place to fix those problems"

 

A C9 interview should not be like a conversation with your boss (altough client is king), it should not be a public confession of where you went wrong. That is for internal politics.

 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to hear that person talk about the plans for Europe. But we need to make sure not to be like we are going head to head with this. Spark a conversation, tell us why it is so hard to get products launched in Europe. Tell us where you feel you could have done better.

I don't know, I'm not talking about putting the thumbscrews on anyone, but if I'm going to develop for WP7, I'd want to know, as a developer, if that effort is going to be worth it or if I'm going to be coding for a platform that is not going to be worthwhile for a large part of the market.

 

Also the part about not interviewing someone until they also have some good news to share means nothing to me. I thought this place wasn't about the marketing.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c7d794772cf44a7f98a79dea00a9c6a4#c7d794772cf44a7f98a79dea00a9c6a4 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:05:26 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c7d794772cf44a7f98a79dea00a9c6a4#c7d794772cf44a7f98a79dea00a9c6a4 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
wastingtimewithforums said:

Well, at least Germany gets bombarded by MS ads.

 

The German TV station "Kabel 1" has produced together with Microsoft tons of really bad Star Trek spoofs, featuring Internet Explorer 8:

 

Witness the horror:

 

 

 

 

 

There are much more...

 

They get broadcasted together with Star Trek movies/shows.

 

Not to forget the dreadful "7 seconds" ads:

 

 

So, the next time you want more MS ads in your country, be careful what you wish for....

I see your ads and raise you these:

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/49809c54bd354923a4319dea00a9c6b2#49809c54bd354923a4319dea00a9c6b2 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:08:06 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/49809c54bd354923a4319dea00a9c6b2#49809c54bd354923a4319dea00a9c6b2 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
wastingtimewithforums said:
*snip*

I see your ads and raise you these:

 

 

 

 

 

They are so stupid they made me laugh. Did those every air on National Television in The Netherlands? In Belgium I have seen none (might be to hard for them, we speak 2 languages here)

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/436fda5985354532a8499dea00a9c6bc#436fda5985354532a8499dea00a9c6bc Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:11:34 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/436fda5985354532a8499dea00a9c6bc#436fda5985354532a8499dea00a9c6bc CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Bas said:
*snip*

They are so stupid they made me laugh. Did those every air on National Television in The Netherlands? In Belgium I have seen none (might be to hard for them, we speak 2 languages here)

Oh yeah, prime time and everything. For weeks. Smiley

 

Wouldn't they just be able to make separate ones for VRT and RTBF?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/ea3a7755b5ad4bddbaf29dea00a9c6c4#ea3a7755b5ad4bddbaf29dea00a9c6c4 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:17:53 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/ea3a7755b5ad4bddbaf29dea00a9c6c4#ea3a7755b5ad4bddbaf29dea00a9c6c4 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

Oh yeah, prime time and everything. For weeks. Smiley

 

Wouldn't they just be able to make separate ones for VRT and RTBF?

Well they would of course Tongue Out I was being sarcastic about multiple languages, I'm sure they understand how Belgium works Wink

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/de007514c1704244bb319dea00a9c6cb#de007514c1704244bb319dea00a9c6cb Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:36:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/de007514c1704244bb319dea00a9c6cb#de007514c1704244bb319dea00a9c6cb CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
CKurt said:
Bas said:
*snip*

Well they would of course Tongue Out I was being sarcastic about multiple languages, I'm sure they understand how Belgium works Wink

Ah, I see. My sarcasm detector shuts down when discussing something depressing. Tongue Out

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/9272ca71bbed4f09a4ef9dea00a9c6d4#9272ca71bbed4f09a4ef9dea00a9c6d4 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:42:56 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/9272ca71bbed4f09a4ef9dea00a9c6d4#9272ca71bbed4f09a4ef9dea00a9c6d4 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
aL_ said:
*snip*

Bing is another one of those things. In the US, bing is great. Over here, there's not even video search. No maps, no travel... I'm looking at it now and it's like looking at Altavista back in the nineties, except with image search. I realise the whole shopping etc. thing requires heavy localisation and deals with stores and such, which takes time, but if Media Center or Windows Speech Recognition are an example that'll simply never happen.

 

I thought of another one: WP7. No localised version coming out here until well into next year. Also no app store. They talked about how maybe they're going to release the English version over here, but you wouldn't be able to buy anything on the app store because there won't be an app store. You might be able to download stuff from the US/English app store, but only if it's free. No paid apps. Not until an unspecified time in 2011. Which usually means a year after the general release date. What a way to push a new platform!

sure but you know whats strange? bing maps actually works very well for sweden at least, they even have public transportation marked out on the maps, they even have birds eye and photosynths for stockholm and other major cities.

 

you just cant get to it from the sweden bing site, you have to switch to U.S and then go to maps..

that is just messed up..

 

i can understand travel and shopping takes a little time, but i cant be convinced regular search cant be used right now from anywhere. infact its already available, but hidden from the vast majority of users. i just cant imagine what they are thinking

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/683cc4a703214fb595899dea00a9c6e4#683cc4a703214fb595899dea00a9c6e4 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:00:00 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/683cc4a703214fb595899dea00a9c6e4#683cc4a703214fb595899dea00a9c6e4 Allan Lindqvist 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/aL_/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
aL_ said:
Bas said:
*snip*

sure but you know whats strange? bing maps actually works very well for sweden at least, they even have public transportation marked out on the maps, they even have birds eye and photosynths for stockholm and other major cities.

 

you just cant get to it from the sweden bing site, you have to switch to U.S and then go to maps..

that is just messed up..

 

i can understand travel and shopping takes a little time, but i cant be convinced regular search cant be used right now from anywhere. infact its already available, but hidden from the vast majority of users. i just cant imagine what they are thinking

you just cant get to it from the sweden bing site, you have to switch to U.S and then go to maps..

that just messed up..

 

That's the point. Why hide it? It's so stupid you have to say , to use the 'propper' Bing set it to United States. If you are looking for movie reviews/trailers and you are on the belgian site. You get a list of links (http://www.bing.com/search?q=The+Shawshank+Redemption&FORM=SSRE) and if you search from United States you get much more (http://www.bing.com/search?q=the+usual+suspects&form=QBLH&scope=web&qs=AS&sk=&pq=the+usual+s&sp=1&sc=8-11)

 

What is the deal with that? It's the same movie! It's the same stuff we search for here. I know it's not a language used in belgium. But a lot of people who don't live in the US still use English search terms. Give them the right experience!

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3e2e17cf2efe4f4c97829dea00a9c6f9#3e2e17cf2efe4f4c97829dea00a9c6f9 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:21:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3e2e17cf2efe4f4c97829dea00a9c6f9#3e2e17cf2efe4f4c97829dea00a9c6f9 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
mdtauk said:
CKurt said:
*snip*

I would not suggest pressuring anyone.  However I would like to get answers to all the questions.  And if for whatever reason they are not able to answer a specific question, could we at least know why they can not answer it.

 

If we asked about the full Music selection being available in Europe, and they say "We cannot answer that at this moment".  I think its fair to ask why they can't answer.

 

The rest of the world has barely heard of Zune, and that's a shame.  Kin was non-existent, and so far, Windows Phone 7 has no presence at all.  Bing gets new features, and it is not reported, or advertised.  There is no one single place in any European cities to go to for Microsoft related products or services.

 

This is something Microsoft has to address, especially if the cloud is to ever be a success.

But if they say "we can't answer that at the moment", it probably means "if we told you the exact reason, we'd p*ss off one or other of the suppliers and then the deal the lawyers have spent months working towards will go south rather quickly." Negotiations can often be very sensitive and talking about them openly doesn't necessarily help the process.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/2e8fd34eb38447929bc89dea00a9c708#2e8fd34eb38447929bc89dea00a9c708 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:27:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/2e8fd34eb38447929bc89dea00a9c708#2e8fd34eb38447929bc89dea00a9c708 AndyC 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/AndyC/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
AndyC said:
mdtauk said:
*snip*

But if they say "we can't answer that at the moment", it probably means "if we told you the exact reason, we'd p*ss off one or other of the suppliers and then the deal the lawyers have spent months working towards will go south rather quickly." Negotiations can often be very sensitive and talking about them openly doesn't necessarily help the process.

Even in Canada it takes a very long time for stuff to leave the US and make it into our market. You rarely hear about other MS divisions in other countries other than MSR in England once in a while.

 

It IS encouraging that WP7 will be released in Europe even before the US.

 

BING maps is still ridiculously low on any useful imagery of Nova Scotia though. We have google street view images of our tiny village but there's nothing but low resolutions blobs on Bing maps.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/fa5dfe533fd34ff5a10e9dea00a9c713#fa5dfe533fd34ff5a10e9dea00a9c713 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:03:36 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/fa5dfe533fd34ff5a10e9dea00a9c713#fa5dfe533fd34ff5a10e9dea00a9c713 dentaku 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/dentaku/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
dentaku said:
AndyC said:
*snip*

Even in Canada it takes a very long time for stuff to leave the US and make it into our market. You rarely hear about other MS divisions in other countries other than MSR in England once in a while.

 

It IS encouraging that WP7 will be released in Europe even before the US.

 

BING maps is still ridiculously low on any useful imagery of Nova Scotia though. We have google street view images of our tiny village but there's nothing but low resolutions blobs on Bing maps.

It IS encouraging that WP7 will be released in Europe even before the US.

 

I wonder if that has anything to do with Kin. Sort of in a "if it fails at least it won't be our second phone failure in that market."

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3033be73897c4fd4b91d9dea00a9c720#3033be73897c4fd4b91d9dea00a9c720 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:11:32 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3033be73897c4fd4b91d9dea00a9c720#3033be73897c4fd4b91d9dea00a9c720 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
dentaku said:
*snip*

 

I wonder if that has anything to do with Kin. Sort of in a "if it fails at least it won't be our second phone failure in that market."

Like if MS would know if WP7 might fail in a month? Or if cancelling WP7 release in the US wouldn't be seen as a failure?

 

I do think MS wants a month of roll-out experience before releasing it in the US though

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/7052e386d5bd4e22b9809dea00a9c72a#7052e386d5bd4e22b9809dea00a9c72a Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:43:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/7052e386d5bd4e22b9809dea00a9c72a#7052e386d5bd4e22b9809dea00a9c72a Minh 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Minh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Minh said:
Bas said:
*snip*

Like if MS would know if WP7 might fail in a month? Or if cancelling WP7 release in the US wouldn't be seen as a failure?

 

I do think MS wants a month of roll-out experience before releasing it in the US though

Like if MS would know if WP7 might fail in a month?

 

Hey, it only took them 48 days to know last time.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/d08c11b0d2414869aba29dea00a9c735#d08c11b0d2414869aba29dea00a9c735 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:12:45 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/d08c11b0d2414869aba29dea00a9c735#d08c11b0d2414869aba29dea00a9c735 Bas 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Bas/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
Minh said:
*snip*

 

Hey, it only took them 48 days to know last time.

Yeah, but MS didn't have the investment in the Kin (ignoring the $250 MM Danger acquicition) as they do with WP7.

 

 

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5d67fb3458e149e1ac1c9dea00a9c73f#5d67fb3458e149e1ac1c9dea00a9c73f Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:59:05 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/5d67fb3458e149e1ac1c9dea00a9c73f#5d67fb3458e149e1ac1c9dea00a9c73f Minh 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Minh/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
dentaku said:
AndyC said:
*snip*

Even in Canada it takes a very long time for stuff to leave the US and make it into our market. You rarely hear about other MS divisions in other countries other than MSR in England once in a while.

 

It IS encouraging that WP7 will be released in Europe even before the US.

 

BING maps is still ridiculously low on any useful imagery of Nova Scotia though. We have google street view images of our tiny village but there's nothing but low resolutions blobs on Bing maps.

It IS encouraging that WP7 will be released in Europe even before the US.

Not really. If the related web services aren't up to par. Take the Bing search for instance. When demoing, they get a hard-on showing off the local search results, that are mapped. I'm willing to bet that this part won't work. And other cloud functionality, which I can't think of yet.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/1317150173754a6089279dea00a9c74c#1317150173754a6089279dea00a9c74c Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:10:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/1317150173754a6089279dea00a9c74c#1317150173754a6089279dea00a9c74c Tom Servo 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Tom Servo/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US Economics is my guess.  A combination of risk/reward.  The US is a very stable market place over decades of time.  Europe hasn't been as stable, particularly in regards to free markets.  So there is additional risk.  Additional work plus additional risk better be met with additional returns or the business will hold off.  I'm not sure the European consumer would pay more than the US consumer.

 

I would image if the cultural differences across the globe weren't as large it wouldn't be the way it is.  Left to Right versus Right to Left versus Top to Bottom.  For all I know there may even be a Bottom to Top language.  Commas versus Decimals.  Then there are always the language specific NO NO words and phrases.

 

I'm just glad to see that we can have a conversation in this forum.  It hasn't been that many years ago that this thread wasn't even possible.

 

The US is currently in the process of shooting itself in the foot when it comes to free market stability.  Patience grasshopper.  Microsoft might be knocking on your door any day now.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/934d9207aa684dba9a259dea00a9c758#934d9207aa684dba9a259dea00a9c758 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:21:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/934d9207aa684dba9a259dea00a9c758#934d9207aa684dba9a259dea00a9c758 Dave Williamson 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/davewill/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:

2 other examples of neglected products in Europe: Bing and the online features of the Xbox 360.

The first thing I did when seeing the DK Bing was to switch to the US version. The DK version is castrated. I don't think Bing should attempt to localize before they have something more than embarassing compared to the US version but luckily it's easy to switch settings.

 

Appropos Bing. Did anyone notice how Google image search now mimics the Bing endless image scroller? It's very nice but both have some annoying mouse over logic associated with them. They're really taking a few pages out of Bing's book.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c8974bac6fae47b5acb09dea00a9c761#c8974bac6fae47b5acb09dea00a9c761 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:27:10 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/c8974bac6fae47b5acb09dea00a9c761#c8974bac6fae47b5acb09dea00a9c761 Bent Rasmussen 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/exoteric/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
rhm said:
*snip*

That's because they don't have to translate them. I've never seen a Microsoft commercial in my life.

http://www.youtube.com/user/msPartner#p/f/1/Y0RgeiBCCG0

 

Well now you have.

 

"This is the entry of the german band Blyndfold.

We are from Dortmund, NRW, Germany; a 5 member combo playing progressive metal.
If you want us to win the MS-Contest and see us perform live on the Partners Conference in Washington, DC, like this video! We also look forward to hear your feedback in the comments."

 

If this doesn't want to make you be a Microsoft partner and peddle thier warez to your clients, I dunno what will!

 

I'm booking my plane ticket to DC now to see da German eevy meetal ! (just kidding)

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/73fda8c26eab4bbca98f9dea00a9c794#73fda8c26eab4bbca98f9dea00a9c794 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:06:49 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/73fda8c26eab4bbca98f9dea00a9c794#73fda8c26eab4bbca98f9dea00a9c794 C732648723643 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/C732648723643/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
AndyC said:
mdtauk said:
*snip*

But if they say "we can't answer that at the moment", it probably means "if we told you the exact reason, we'd p*ss off one or other of the suppliers and then the deal the lawyers have spent months working towards will go south rather quickly." Negotiations can often be very sensitive and talking about them openly doesn't necessarily help the process.

Then they can say "we are unable to discuss details with you right now, but we are in negotiations with various people hoping for a resolution in time for Windows Phone 7's launch in Europe"

 

It says nothing specific, gives us hope for launch, and explains what's happening.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/acb90ad9f2fc4f5388369dea00a9c7a2#acb90ad9f2fc4f5388369dea00a9c7a2 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:32:43 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/acb90ad9f2fc4f5388369dea00a9c7a2#acb90ad9f2fc4f5388369dea00a9c7a2 Martin Anderson 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/mdtauk/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:

Or speech recognition in Windows and Office.

 

Microsoft doesn't spend any money on development or marketing in Europe.

A lot of MSFT's dev teams are outside the US - EPDC (Ireland), Beijing, and India. there's quite a few thousand dev headcount in those centers.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/035b42fb09f24a0fa31b9dea00a9c7de#035b42fb09f24a0fa31b9dea00a9c7de Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:24:43 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/035b42fb09f24a0fa31b9dea00a9c7de#035b42fb09f24a0fa31b9dea00a9c7de fatfrank 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/fatfrank/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
fatfrank said:
ZippyV said:
*snip*

A lot of MSFT's dev teams are outside the US - EPDC (Ireland), Beijing, and India. there's quite a few thousand dev headcount in those centers.

And which dev centre is creating the localized versions?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e29f4d854335460086ed9dea00a9c7ea#e29f4d854335460086ed9dea00a9c7ea Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:44:44 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/e29f4d854335460086ed9dea00a9c7ea#e29f4d854335460086ed9dea00a9c7ea ZippyV 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ZippyV/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ZippyV said:
fatfrank said:
*snip*

And which dev centre is creating the localized versions?

Ireland localizes for all the European languages

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/415ba08e05054a8da1e49dea00a9c7f2#415ba08e05054a8da1e49dea00a9c7f2 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:12:51 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/415ba08e05054a8da1e49dea00a9c7f2#415ba08e05054a8da1e49dea00a9c7f2 fatfrank 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/fatfrank/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US I was recently in France (Paris namely) and there was Apple adverts for the iPad everywhere. You literally couldn't get on the metro (underground) without seeing the Star Trek/iPad poster at least twice.

 

I think Microsoft just doesn't care about the rest of the world. The only reason the UK gets special treatment is because Microsoft UK is a fairly large entity within its own right.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/6ca5c88907cc4f1ead539dea00a9c7f9#6ca5c88907cc4f1ead539dea00a9c7f9 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:33:58 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/6ca5c88907cc4f1ead539dea00a9c7f9#6ca5c88907cc4f1ead539dea00a9c7f9 Manip 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/ManipUni/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
ManipUni said:

I was recently in France (Paris namely) and there was Apple adverts for the iPad everywhere. You literally couldn't get on the metro (underground) without seeing the Star Trek/iPad poster at least twice.

 

I think Microsoft just doesn't care about the rest of the world. The only reason the UK gets special treatment is because Microsoft UK is a fairly large entity within its own right.

That might just be it. The is a Microsoft UK witch is pretty big. Like I said before, if you live with the problems every day and think "this can be done better" you might do something about it.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3709024bcfba437a8b989dea00a9c802#3709024bcfba437a8b989dea00a9c802 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:35:44 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3709024bcfba437a8b989dea00a9c802#3709024bcfba437a8b989dea00a9c802 CKurt 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/CKurt/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - Microsoft outside the US
Bas said:
wastingtimewithforums said:
*snip*

I see your ads and raise you these:

 

 

 

 

 

Nice, but can you counter this:

 

ard






ard 2





I think this one is unique to Germany, but I am not sure. Microsoft "sponsored" the national public broadcasters here (ZDF + ARD, they work exactly like the BBC), and now, when those stations cover an election in Germany, the Microsoft logo is shown.


Some local Open Source organisations are always furious when this happens.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3c7d2f887cbf4234832e9dea00a9c80c#3c7d2f887cbf4234832e9dea00a9c80c Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:38:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/565436-Microsoft-outside-the-US/3c7d2f887cbf4234832e9dea00a9c80c#3c7d2f887cbf4234832e9dea00a9c80c wastingtimewithforums 79 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/wastingtimewithforums/Discussions/RSS