[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Microsoft response to Nader Conference
The following is an interesting letter the Association of Microsoft
Solution Providers (AMSP) is circulating about November 13, 14,
Appraising Microsoft confernce. Jamie
---------------------
Subject: AMSP update regarding recent press about Microsoft
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 13:38:50 -0800
Recently, you've likely seen a lot of news coverage concerning Microsoft
and
law suits with competitors, the recent U.S. Department of Justice
investigation and Ralph Nader's planned Nov. 13 conference.
This has prompted many MCSPs to contact us to express their views about
the
company and our position on these issues. The Association of Microsoft
Solution Providers (AMSP) has heard from you as well.
Both here in Redmond and at the AMSP chapters throughout the US, MCSPs
have
been asking us to provide the appropriate contact information to help
them
get involved. Therefore, respecting the privacy of your e-mail
address, I
am forwarding an e-mail recently distributed by the AMSP to its
membership.
It contains helpful information about how to educate yourself on these
issues and share your views if you wish to.
These are important issues for you and the overall industry. I know
that
AMSP will help you ensure your voice is heard.
Bill Henningsgaard
General Manager
Organization Customer Unit, Microsoft
-----Original Message-----
From: Susuanh@amsp.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 1997 4:55 PM
To: Bill Henningsgaard
Subject: AMSP Membership mail
Dear Microsoft Certified Solution Provider:
You're probably aware of the criticism Microsoft has come under from
both
the Justice Department as well as from Ralph Nader regarding Microsoft's
position within the PC industry and what Nader calls unfair business
practices regarding Microsoft.
Nader is holding an "Appraising Microsoft and its Global Strategy"
conference in Washington DC Nov. 13/14 to bring attention to and rally
support for his stance against Microsoft. The AMSP is seriously
concerned
about the negative PR and potentially damaging impact that this will
bring
upon Microsoft and the impact this could have on you and your business.
We
want to do all that we can to support the Microsoft position in the
industry
and their work on setting standards in the PC software market. As the
community of third party professionals dedicated to the Microsoft
platform
of products, we want to speak up loudly to create as much positive PR as
we
can both locally within each of your locations and with your congressman
as
well as with the DOJ. We can do this by sharing our views through the
appropriate influence and media channels.
Below are three things we are asking of each AMSP member. Please send a
letter to Mr. Nader and copy your local congressional representatives
and
the AMSP office at http://MSVoices@baydweller.com . If you have the
time
and can take the extra step to communicate through each channel listed
below, our voices will be heard by more people.
We have included the letter from the AMSP in response to the form letter
posted on http://www.cptech.org and key message points that you can use
in
drafting your own thoughts on your letterhead.
<<Message Points.doc>> <<AMSP Letter.rtf>>
NOTE: If your mail client does not accept attachments, please visit the
AMSP web site at (http://www.amsp.org/docs/) to obtain copies of the
attached Word documents.
Highlights from the AMSP letter include:
* Solution providers provide an independent viewpoint
* The browser is an enhancement to the OS
* DOJ should not restrict MS from developing integrated
products
* Competitors agree that the browser is a part of the operating
system
* The US economy benefits from MS contributions to the software
industry
* MS is standards based and open with its information
* Do not punish success
1. Send a letter to Ralph Nader:
* Ralph Nader
PO Box 19312
Washington, DC 20036
email to Ralph Nader at www.love@cptech.org.
2. Send a copy of your letter to:
* your local congressman asking for his support of Microsoft in
this
issue. To locate your local congressman check:
http://congress.nw.dc.us/rollcall/search.html
* opinion@objectivity.org. This is an independent Web site at
www.objectivity.org generating views on these and other issues in the
industry.
* the AMSP business office at this fax #: 972-988-1125 or email
Msvoices@baydweller.com. We are collecting these letters for our
representative to deliver in bulk as a voice from AMSP at the Nader
conference this month.
3. Send a letter to the editor of your local daily newspaper.
* If you need contact information for your local newspaper, e-mail
voiceinfo@baydweller.com and we will send them to you.
This is an extremely important issue to both AMSP and Microsoft and one
where we as a professional association can take a stance and make our
voice
heard. Please take the time to forward this message to every member of
your
chapter asking for their help in supporting the Microsoft position
within
the industry. Encourage your members to send letters to the DOJ, Nader,
their congressman, the editors of their local paper and to the AMSP
office
immediately. Our AMSP Board representative will be leaving for
Washington
next Wednesday and we need all letters in his hand before then.
For more information on the Nader conference, visit:
http://www.appraising-microsoft.org; or http://www.cptech.org If you
interested in attending the event please send e-mail to
VoiceInfo@baydweller.com and we will send you information about how to
join
fellow MCSPs at the event.
If you would like more information on AMSP, visit our web site at
http://www.amsp.org, or you may contact me directly.
Thank you,
Susan Hanneld
Executive Director
AMSP
Susanha@amsp.org