[UPDATED 08/01/08 4:00pm - OK, finally word from Microsoft. Here's what I got from Matt Champagne, director of Windows Live mobile services:
This week we rolled out a direct-to-consumer billing service for the Windows Live client on Nokia S60 in the UK and Sweden. Although we are considering doing the same at a future time for Windows Mobile, this has not been implemented – however, something happened and many of you saw a trial message on Windows Mobile devices. Windows Mobile customers shouldn’t have received any notifications of a 30-day trial and we are working as quickly as possible to correct this.
As you may know, we offer Messenger services through mobile operators on lots of handsets, not just Windows Mobile. Traditionally, customers have been billed by their mobile operators for many of these services, either directly or through their data package.]
I’ve starting to receive reports from some users of Windows Live Messenger Mobile that they are receiving “30 day trial” prompts when they connect to the service.
Here’s the offending message being displayed to users:
Hello! Starting today, your 30 day trial period beings. By selecting OK you acknowledge that your use of Windows Live services continues to be subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Statement.
UPDATE: I’ve yet to see a screenshot of this message - apparently it’s quite elusive - so I’m not sure if that beings error message is part of the message or just a transcription typo. Here’s the full message:
Hello! Starting today, your 30 day trial period begins. By selecting OK you acknowledge that your use of Windows Live services continues to be subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. Data charges from your mobile operator, including roaming fees may apply for using the Windows Live services. At the conclusion of this trial, you will be given the option to purchase a 30 day pass.
Details are currently sketchy but not all users seem to be seeing this prompt.
Users on the MoDaCo forum are pretty representative - some seeing the prompt, others not.
Interestingly, the Windows Live ID terms and conditions does contain a clause to cover this:
7.4 Trial Period Offers. You may have received a limited time of free service or some other trial period offer. Unless we notify you otherwise, if you are participating in any trial period offer, you must cancel the service by the end of the trial period to avoid incurring charges. If you do not cancel your service, and we have informed you that the service will automatically be converted into a paid subscription at the end of the trial period, then you authorize us to charge your payment method for the service.
I’ve emailed Microsoft for comment and will let you know what I hear. But this does raise an interesting question - would you pay for the Windows Live Messenger Mobile service?
Poll
Would you pay to access the Windows Live Messenger Mobile service?
UPDATE: MoDaCo admin Paul (MVP) has caught a screenshot of the message - he had to hard reset his phone to get that. Well done!
Thoughts?
