Response Point Team Blog : Worldwide Partner Conference

Getting Response Point to SBSCs

Jeffsmi — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:50:10 GMT

Chris Rue wrote a great post today imploring us to get Response Point in the hands of as many SBSCs as possible before it is released, and highlighting the importance of that hands-on experience with the product. I could not agree more!

This is exactly why we reserved a number of spots in our beta program specifically for SBSCs and why we -- with noteworthy support from our hardware partners D-Link and Quanta -- gave away 100 free pre-release phone systems at the Small Business Symposium. Engaging the SBSC channel and getting the product in your hands is a top priority of ours.

But Response Point is not an online service that we can just post on a website and let everyone use. Phones, base units and phone line adapters are physical hardware devices that have to be manufactured, packaged and shipped. There are regulations, customs and certifications particular to communications products involved as well. Our OEMs have been regularly sending batches of hardware, but unfortunately I do not have a phone system drive on my laptop that manufactures, packages and mails a phone system to any partner who wants one.

And while we have said very little about Response Point publicly, we have already been flooded with many times more beta and demo system requests than we can fulfill before launch. I have no idea how word got around so quickly; I've worked on several Microsoft v1's and never seen so many immediate "I want one" reactions like we have encountered with Response Point. Of course as a product manager, I am ecstatic to see the buzz, but I also recognize the growing demand for more product, more information, more partner resources.

So in a nutshell, my response to Chris is: We hear you. We agree with you. But please be patient :-).

Jeff

Exclusive after-party tonight at Cru

Jeffsmi — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:04:33 GMT

The Response Point team is hosting dinner and drinks tonight (Monday, July 9) for Small Business Symposium attendees at Cru, from 8:00 - 10:00pm. Attendence is limited, but you can RSVP at one of our lunch roundtables or afternoon sessions, or by catching Veronica Buckley -- who is wearing a white Response Point polo shirt in the networking lounge.

The address is 1442 Larimer St. in Denver.

Hope to see you there!

Jeff Smith

Senior Product Manager

Microsoft Response Point

Response Point at MS Worldwide Partner Conference

Jeffsmi — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 01:01:45 GMT

We will be presenting at the Microsoft Small Business Symposium on Monday, July 9 in Denver. The session is titled "Voice-over-IP: The Next Big Thing for Small Business Specialists?" and is scheduled from 1:15 - 2:15pm and again from 2:20 - 3:20pm. If you are attending, please come see us. Partners who attend the first session will be happy they did, although I cannot explain why just yet...

We also have a wine and dinner reception Monday evening and a demo kiosk at the Worldwide Partner Conference Product Pavilion Tuesday through Thursday. Hope to see you there!

Jeff Smith

Senior Product Manager

Microsoft Response Point