Blane
1
DELL AND MICROSOFT are to share information they have gathered on their customers in order to more closely target their marketing efforts in Japan, we learn from an article in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
According to the piece, Dell has some "cursory" information on about 100,000 small and midsize companies on its books in the region. Microsoft it seems, has more detailed information on around 20,000 customers. The pair are to share the information in an attempt to push more servers running Windows 2000 Server, through Dell's doors.
The scheme kicks off this month and is the first time Microsoft has chosen to release customer information to manufacturers, the report states.
Now, we know for certain, having once bought a Dell system, that the company has us down as a small business on its books, with two slightly different mis-spelled versions of our name in its database. We bought the system years ago and still receive two copies of each new mailshot the company regularly produces in an attempt to get us to buy new kit. With printing and mailing costs, we'd guess that he company has spent close to half the cost of the system we originally bought in vain attempts to get us to buy another one.
Maybe the nature of the customer information the company holds in Japan is more pertinent. Or maybe the enhanced information Microsoft will bring to the deal will help weed out erroneous leads like us from those that may actually be interested in the offerings.
Whatever the terms of the deal, having this pair of heavyweights ganging up on you to buy their kit is pretty scary in our book.
According to the piece, Dell has some "cursory" information on about 100,000 small and midsize companies on its books in the region. Microsoft it seems, has more detailed information on around 20,000 customers. The pair are to share the information in an attempt to push more servers running Windows 2000 Server, through Dell's doors.
The scheme kicks off this month and is the first time Microsoft has chosen to release customer information to manufacturers, the report states.
Now, we know for certain, having once bought a Dell system, that the company has us down as a small business on its books, with two slightly different mis-spelled versions of our name in its database. We bought the system years ago and still receive two copies of each new mailshot the company regularly produces in an attempt to get us to buy new kit. With printing and mailing costs, we'd guess that he company has spent close to half the cost of the system we originally bought in vain attempts to get us to buy another one.
Maybe the nature of the customer information the company holds in Japan is more pertinent. Or maybe the enhanced information Microsoft will bring to the deal will help weed out erroneous leads like us from those that may actually be interested in the offerings.
Whatever the terms of the deal, having this pair of heavyweights ganging up on you to buy their kit is pretty scary in our book.