Thanks for your interest in the Microsoft Real Life Stories program. The deadline for applications has passed, and we are no longer accepting applications.

Wanted: Participants for Microsoft’s Office 2010 Real Life Stories program

Does your family use the home computer to create chore lists, manage schedules or do homework?  Are you a parent with children under age 18 that use the computer to do their school work?  Are you part of a small business that requires flexibility in where and when you work?  Are you a college student who uses the computer for your homework and who regularly works with other students on assignments or projects?  

Overview

We are looking for Families, Students and Small Businesses (that own 5 PCs or less) in the United States, who use computers on a daily basis, to participate in Microsoft’s Office 2010 Real Life Stories program.  This program provides a select number of people with inside access to Office 2010 and the web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint before they ship! Each participant will enjoy a variety of benefits including unlimited, U.S.-based email support, access to a dedicated Microsoft program manager, and web sites and other resources to ensure a successful Office 2010 experience.  In return, we ask that you use the software for personal or work use on a daily basis and that you are willing to be featured in Microsoft public relations and marketing activities.

What’s in it for me?

• Microsoft Office 2010 pre-installed on a “loaner” laptop PC – before it ships!
• 24-hour unlimited e-mail support Monday – Friday, with phone support for escalations
• Monthly webcast training and Q&A sessions 
• Community site access, so you can connect with other participants and easily use resources like feature videos and announcements
• FREE copy of Microsoft Office 2010 (when available)

Program Expectations:

• A minimum commitment of six months is required
• Use the Microsoft-provided “loaner” laptop for your daily business or personal tasks
• Participate in trainings, surveys and calls
• Agree to share your experience through marketing and public relations efforts (See ‘Tell Your Story’ section below for more information)  

Who are we looking for?

	Home Users This is a family who considers themselves moderately technologically savvy and uses the computer at home. They use a productivity suite like Microsoft Office, Google Docs or Open Office to support their family life. From lesson plans and chore lists, to managing all of their families’ busy schedules, the computer plays a role (or could play a role!) in their weekly routine. They most likely use the computer to help their kids with his/her project, homework, etc. This person is good in front a camera and is a great communicator.
	Small Businesses This is a person who manages a small or home-based business involving between 1 and 5 PCs. They are technologically savvy and use computers on a daily basis to help them run their business. By using a productivity suite like Microsoft Office, Google Docs or Open Office they are able to save time or track their business results more easily, or add efficiency to their process. They may use the computer to add value to their business in other ways like tracking ROI or attracting new customers to their business. This person is good in front a camera and is a great communicator.
	College Students This is a person who attends school part-time or full-time as a teacher or student. They use productivity suite like Microsoft Office, Google Docs or Open are technologically savvy, use computers regularly for school, and collaborate on projects or assignment with other students. They use the computer to help them with their schoolwork or to stay organized. They may also use the computer to prepare for the working world or getting a job. This person is good in front a camera and is a great communicator.

Tell Your Story

We really want to understand how Microsoft Office impacts your life and want to help you use the latest version to improve your home, work, and school life. We want to hear about your experience using Office 2010 and the web versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and see how Office 2010 plays a role in your daily routine.

Once you have been using the software for a while, there may be an opportunity to share your story on a larger level through Microsoft’s public relations and marketing efforts. This can mean everything from being featured in case studies and  videos to acting as a press reference or even just letting us share your testimonials about the software. 

How do I get involved?

The deadline for submissions was June 30th 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to be a Microsoft Office user to be eligible?
A: No. You can currently use any productivity suite or service, or none at all. We just ask that you be willing to use the Office 2010 software on the “loaner” laptop daily for work and or personal tasks during the program.

Q: Is this open to people outside the U.S.?
A: No, this is a U.S.-based program right now. It may be rolled out to other markets at a later time.

Q: Can I use my Macintosh?
A: For this program, we are asking that all participants use the loaner laptop PC provided by Microsoft.  It is ok if you also use a Mac for other purposes.

Q: When will you make your selections?
A: We will select our program participants by the 2nd week of July 2009.