Microsoft Offers Phone Support For IE 7

An anonymous reader writes "The BBC is running a short piece detailing Microsoft's newest step in testing Internet Explorer 7, which just went into Beta 2 yesterday. They're now offering free phone support to U.S., German, and Japanese users who try out the trial software." From the article: "'We believe that IE 7, even at this beta stage, is a significant improvement and we want as many people as possible to try it and use it,' said the browser development team in a post on its blog. 'IE 7 is feature complete and has been through significant compatibility and reliability testing. People (especially technology enthusiasts) will have a good experience with it,' continued the post. Microsoft said the new version addresses some problems affecting banking and news sites. It is also designed to be more secure than the current version, with built-in protection against malicious software and online phishing scams."

US, German and Japanese only?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's the criterion for inclusion in this scheme? Your mother country has to have invaded another sovereign state? ;-)

Improved Windows Update experience

[jbeaupre]

I'm really looking forward to a good experience when running Windows Update experience, since that's all I ever use IE for.

Free Phone Support

[Billosaur]

It is offering free telephone support to consumers in the US, Germany and Japan who decide to try it out.

Yes, that's right. You get this lovely tripod with gripping arm, absolutely free with your trial of IE7 Beta. Now, when you are stuck on interminable hold with Microsoft Tech support, you won't have to hold the phone up to your ear -- the Phone Support will do all the work! It frees up your hands so you can send hate mail to Bill Gates while still waiting for the next available tech support specialist.

Microsoft IE7 phone support

[0WaitState]

"Hello, welcome to Microsoft Internet Explorer Seven phone support..."

"Press 1 to be told to reboot, press 2 to be told to reinstall IE7, press 3 to be told to reinstall the OS, press 4 to be told to apply next month's patches to the OS, press 5 to be told to contact the website's administrator for writing non-IE7 compliant HTML, press 8 to purchase Microsoft malware protection services..."

Re:US, German and Japanese only?

[a_nonamiss]

Soon to be available in Latin, Greek and Mongolian...

Scott Adams Style

[berenixium]

"Hello, this is Dogbert's Internet Explorer 7 Helpdesk. How may I destroy you?"

"Please hold while I disconnect, erm, redirect you to the appropriate expert. Sucker!"

No doubt

[CaptainZapp]

'We believe that IE 7, even at this beta stage, is a significant improvement and we want as many people as possible to try it and use it,'

That it's a significant improvement to IE 6. What I don't quite get is why it should be a significant improvement to the competition; specifically Opera & Firefox.

In another news...

[William Robinson]

Microsoft has decided to offer free phone support for Calculator and Solitair.

Will they help me get it running under wine?

[Anonymous Coward]

nt

Re:US, German and Japanese only?

[misleb]

My home country is the fatherland, you insensitive clod!

Re:Yesterday?

[misleb]

Could be Beta 2 Preview Release Candidate 1 Service Pack 2.