Microsoft Malaysia launches two new support programmes
Kuala Lumpur, 2 March 2000 (Asia Pulse) - In a bid to provide more enhanced support services to Microsoft software users, Microsoft Malaysia Sdn Bhd recently launched two new support and services programmes aimed for its registered personal and professional users.
The Microsoft Personal Support Programme, which came into effect March 1 this year, caters to home and small office-home office (SOHO) users, while the Microsoft Professional Support Programme meets the support needs of organisations of all sizes. Microsoft (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd's technical support manager Lawrence Chia said the launch of the two support and services programme was timely as the firm will be launching its latest operating system, Microsoft Windows 2000 in the country soon.
"The launch of Windows 2000 signifies the birth of new directions and higher levels of business computing -- new capabilities, new computing requirements, and therefore, new support and service demands," he told reporters at a media briefing here today. Chia added that with the ever changing business environment, requirements for support services have been evolving constantly, especially over the past few years. "So what we are covering today really is an addition, if not an enhancement of our present support services," he said.
The Microsoft Personal Support Programme is aimed for home and small office-home (SOHO) users, where users are entitled to personal online support including free online self-help resources and Web events. For buyers of Microsoft consumer products, acquired at retail, they are entitled to the no-charge assisted support via telephone, provided by Microsoft support professionals. On the other hand, the Microsoft Professional Support Programme meets the support needs of organizations of all sizes, Chia said. It also includes variations in customized support offerings to suit the requirements of Application Developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and System Builders, Microsoft Certified Solution Providers (MCSPs), IT professionals and value-added resellers.
The programme, among others, provides online support for IT professionals as well as Web-based training and Web events to provide them with the latest knowledge and skills transfer. Meanwhile, there is also the fee-based assisted support under both personal and professional programmes which charges a nominal fee per incident.
The service charges range from about $50 Ringgit per incident for personal support to 295 Ringgit per incident for web-based professional support. Discount prices can be obtained for customers who purchase the service in packs, Chia said. Apart from the personal and professional support programmes, Microsoft Malaysia also offers a Premier Support programme for large enterprises, Chia said.
The programme is designed specifically for organizations with demanding requirements for support of their mission-critical systems, he said. To sign up for these support services, customers can call the Microsoft Services Hotline at 1-800-883249 or access their website at http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/support.