My comment based on the information published by the AFB in the latest Accessworld, which incidentally, gave the accessibility service a pretty good review.
The main point would still seem to apply: nothing from Microsoft for the rest of us, and I doubt that we will get telephone based accessibility support from them any time soon. It highlights for me the importance of so-called global initiatives being very clear as to the caveats which apply. This initiative in its most general sense is still a very positive and constructive development, but it seems to me that some "ts" need to be properly crossed and some "is" need to be properly dotted. Vaughan. -----Original Message----- From: Walt Cone [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, 15 January 2014 10:49 a.m. To: Vaughan Dodd; 'Stephen Clower'; [email protected] Subject: RE: Some thoughts on reactions to the GWMicro and Microsoft partnership: I havbe had people in Canada use that service. -----Original Message----- From: Vaughan Dodd [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 4:09 PM To: 'Stephen Clower'; [email protected] Subject: RE: Some thoughts on reactions to the GWMicro and Microsoft partnership: Hi again. Thank you for this: I guess my intention was to indicate that Microsoft telephone based technical support where this applies to disability access is only available in the United States - not for the rest of us. There are list members who like me, live in New Zealand - others live in Australia etc. Local dealer support for Window-eyes is also somewhat haphazard, but I don't wish to raise this topic again as for me at least - I don't need local dealer support. Cheers., Vaughan. -----Original Message----- From: Stephen Clower [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, 15 January 2014 10:04 a.m. To: Vaughan Dodd; [email protected] Subject: Re: Some thoughts on reactions to the GWMicro and Microsoft partnership: Hello Vaughan, This is true-- the Microsoft disability answer desk is presently available exclusively in English. However, our dealers around the globe are available for technical support if required, and you can find information at www.windoweyesforoffice.com. HTH, Steve On 1/14/2014 3:51 PM, Vaughan Dodd wrote: > Hi Steven. > > Thank you for answering Solomon's questions so promptly and directly. > > Just to clarify with you: Microsoft's disability support is not global. > By way of suggestion: it seems to me that this discussion may indicate that some redrafting of the FAQ may be helpful. > > Vaughan. > > > Regards. > > Vaughan. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Stephen Clower [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, 15 January 2014 9:46 a.m. > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Some thoughts on reactions to the GWMicro and Microsoft partnership: > > Solomon, > > Please see my responses below. > > On 1/14/2014 3:33 PM, Solomon Mekonnen wrote: >> 1. How about all prepaid and yet unused SMA privileges? > All existing software maintenance agreements will be honored. > >> 2. Does the partnership mean software integration, or, does >> WindowEyes maintain its independence? > Window-Eyes is still its own product and will continue to be developed > by those of us at GW Micro. > >> 3. If integration, would the integration of WindowEyes with >> Microsoft cause WindowEyes to suffer from the vulnerabilities of >> Microsoft Office products? Is GWMicro still committed to assuring the >> stability of WindowEyes we have enjoyed so far? > I can't speak to the former since it is presently a non-issue. To the second part, most definitely. > > 4. Does the consumer continue to receive tech-support from GWMicro > or will Microsoft provide tech-support? > > While the Microsoft disability answer desk is equipped with some Window-Eyes knowledge, customers are still encouraged to contact us directly for WE-related support. > >> 5. If the latter, Does Microsoft have enough tech-support staff >> who are familiar with, not only the technical details of WindowEyes, >> but also and more importantly the peculiar nature of the needs of the >> clientele of GWMicro and similar vendors or providers? > See above. > >> 6. Do we still have the option of procuring WindowEyes without >> necessarily associating ourselves with Microsoft Office products? >> > Yes. The retail version of Window-Eyes will continue to be made available. > > Regards, > Steve > > > > > -- > Stephen Clower > Product support specialist & App Development GW Micro, Inc. * 725 > Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 > 260-489-3671 * gwmicro.com > If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original > sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. > > GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You > can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. > > > ------------------------------- > This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry. > > ------------------------------- -- Stephen Clower Product support specialist & App Development GW Micro, Inc. * 725 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-489-3671 * gwmicro.com ------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry. ------------------------------- If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. ------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry. ------------------------------- If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
