Microsoft turning up the heat in the UK

[FredBloggs007]

So it looks like MS are finally spending some good money on advertising here in the UK. A constant flow of adverts are appearing on TV for Windows Phone (esp Cortana), Surface Pro 3 and the Xbox. And the good thing is that the ads aren't that bad either - much better than the 'honestly...' ones. Great job MS UK!

 

[gMaesterUK]

Yes have to admit, MS are spending a lot on ads in the UK, probably can't go an hour without seeing at least one ad.

 

[FredBloggs007]

Yes have to admit, MS are spending a lot on ads in the UK, probably can't go an hour without seeing at least one ad.

Indeed! Now, they just need to get some celes using the phone in high profile places to raise the brand even more...

 

[anon9169769]

And watch the gadget show on Monday on channel 5 as they are pitching the HTC 8 against other phones

 

[gedzum]

Agreed, I've seen them pushing ads and posters at the cinema trying to raise awareness of the platform. Even overheard other cinema goers talking about Cortana so at least it's getting people talking.

 

[anaskhan]

Great Job

 

[EBUK]

Any links to the ads on YouTube (or elsewhare)?

I don't have a television!

 

[Ebuka Allison]

There's a maqssive poster at Leicester for thr Microsoft Lumia 735 (that's what the poster says)

 

[BonzeUK]

Which is good for the commercial channels.

But they need to have a word with someone at the BBC to remind them that not everyone has an iPhone.

 

[flattie]

As a dual user with a Nexus 5, I don't feel the pinch too much. Still, I find it irritating that the BBC seems happy to do the absolute bare minimum on WP, despite market share being around the 10% mark here. They're a public service and I would have thought 10% is a significant enough number to take seriously. A couple of glorified web-apps are a very poor showing.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[EBUK]

Which is good for the commercial channels.

But they need to have a word with someone at the BBC to remind them that not everyone has an iPhone.

Oh, yes, the BBC. The corporation that claims it is platform neutral and won't use proprietary software for its on-demand services... So many people pay their license fee and get nothing in return.

 

[FredBloggs007]

Oh, yes, the BBC. The corporation that claims it is platform neutral and won't use proprietary software for its on-demand services... So many people pay their license fee and get nothing in return.

Yep - also that Rory Cellan Jones on BBC (so-called tech guru) needs to understand that there is more to tech than Apple!!! Hopefully the ads in the UK will increase brand awareness...

 

[msirapian]

There are more and more ads for Lumias (830/930) in France but of course, none puts the stress on Cortana. So I hope that Cortana public presence in the UK is the sign of her coming out of alpha and entering into a public beta (as in the US) by Christmas.

If not, people will start wonder what on earth is that Cortana they can't find on their phone (except geeks or 730/830 owners)

 

[CGA1]

In Sweden I haven't seen a Windows phone advert in ages, makes me wonder if they've totally given up this market.

 

[paulsalter]

There are more and more ads for Lumias (830/930) in France but of course, none puts the stress on Cortana. So I hope that Cortana public presence in the UK is the sign of her coming out of alpha and entering into a public beta (as in the US) by Christmas.

If not, people will start wonder what on earth is that Cortana they can't find on their phone (except geeks or 730/830 owners)

Cortana is already Beta in the UK, same as the US

 

[msirapian]

I was led to understand Cortana is alpha in the UK, whilst beta in the US. But you seem to be right, it's beta since GDR1 (PfD) was released.

Anyway, only phones sporting GDR1 (or Denim) can access Cortana in the UK, right? It means: 730/830, 930 which has received GDR1 (while staying on Cyan), and people using Preview for Developers (that I quickly summed up as geeks). My point was: she has to be released to the masses quickly (all wp phones, so for the lumias, denim has to roll out), without having to install PfD. So I hope it means : Denim rolled out by Christmas and not beginning of 2015 as the rumor says.

 

[neo158]

I was led to understand Cortana is alpha in the UK, whilst beta in the US. But you seem to be right, it's beta since GDR1 (PfD) was released.

Anyway, only phones sporting GDR1 (or Denim) can access Cortana in the UK, right? It means: 730/830, 930 which has received GDR1 (while staying on Cyan), and people using Preview for Developers (that I quickly summed up as geeks). My point was: she has to be released to the masses quickly (all wp phones, so for the lumias, denim has to roll out), without having to install PfD. So I hope it means : Denim rolled out by Christmas and not beginning of 2015 as the rumor says.

The ATIV S also has it, I have the official release of WP8.1 GDR1 and the firmware.

 

[msirapian]

OK, add the ativ s too but I think we can agree that MOST WP8 phones and users can't access Cortana (yet) because they need GDR1, which has been rolled out only on a couple of models (I was focusing on Lumias).

 

[neo158]

OK, add the ativ s too but I think we can agree that MOST WP8 phones and users can't access Cortana (yet) because they need GDR1, which has been rolled out only on a couple of models (I was focusing on Lumias).

Yeah, that's true. Only a few models can access Cortana in the UK as GDR1 has either rolled out to it or the device shipped with it installed. Well, the ATIV S is still a Windows Phone and this is the General News & Discussion Section ;-)

 

[EBUK]

Yes, Cortana is Beta on the L735.

Playing with her last night, and she is getting better at learning about me. She's a little unstable and crashed out for no obvious reason a couple of times. But still better - more 'human' - than Google Now (never tried Siri.)