Microsoft Uses Social Software to Talk to Partners

Microsoft has launched Channel 9, a website for third party developers which combines blogs, wikis and discussion forums.

Site rules emphasize courtesy, thoughtfulness and refraining from mercantile behavior. "Channel 9 is all about the conversation," according to the posted rules. "Channel 9 should inspire Microsoft and our customers to talk in an honest and human voice. Channel 9 is not a marketing tool, not a PR tool, not a lead-generation tool."

[Source: CNET]

Comments

[Dimension India - CAD / GIS service provider co.]

It seems...it would be a nice experience.

[Robert Bush]

Microsoft has quietly expanded its Microsoft Developer Network with a Web site that combines a host of social networking technologies in a move to improve communications with outside software developers.

The Web site, called Channel 9, uses Web logs, Mob logs, wikis and forums as well as other technologies to reach out to developers. The site was created by a group of five engineers and technology evangelists at Microsoft and named after the in-flight audio channel that allows passengers on United Airlines to listen in on cockpit communications.

[Michael Heraghty]

Ahhh ... I've figured it out (I think). I'm using Google's autofill tool (on the toolbar). For some reason, it's confusing the "name" section with "phone number" on your old site, so my phone number was getting automatically entered into the name field.

Anyway, ignore or delete all of these comments :)

[Michael Heraghty]

Nope... guess not ... had a scary experience when I saw it happen a minute ago though, when I posted a comment on your old site:
http://www.deepsun.com/netedge/archives/000277.php

How did you find my mobile number automatically? What if I didn't want to reveal my phone number (I don't mind actually, but the question is valid)?

[Michael Heraghty]

Just checking to see if my name auto-converts into my mobile phone number, as it did in my previous comment.