Excited by yesterday announcement by Macromedia I headed off to their main promotion page and immediately signed up for the free trial promising one free month use of Macromedia Breeze web conferencing technology. But, for whatever reason not apparent to me, it looks like Macromedia is not going to keep the promise I signed up for.
Fact is that I did receive immediate and prompt follow up, in the form of two exciting emails from Macromedia.
In the first one, coming directly from Macromedia, I was given a number of links to explore more information about Breeze but with no link or button mentioning the free trial I had signed up for.
In the second email, from Macromedia Italy, and which was completely in Italian (did I ask for this?) I learned the whole story about Macromedia and about its new technology but with no reference whatsoever about the free 30-day trial for which I though I had signed up for.
I went back to the original Macromedia offer page to read back what the offer was saying. And so it read:
"For the month of March, Macromedia is offering free Breeze web conferencing. With Breeze, more than half a billion web users can immediately experience engaging online meetings and rich content. Using the ubiquitous Macromedia Flash Player, Breeze delivers instant web meetings without requiring special plug-ins or media players."
Then I went on to read in more detail the small text that had been added:
"Free trial offer is limited to the first 500 new customers in North America only. Offer includes unlimited meetings with up to 5 participants"
So, I guess, we in other countries outside of the US are one more time slotted as second class potential customers and not worth the interest and attention of some of the large US corporations in this industry.
While I can't get more annoyed by Web conferences and seminars that still utilize phone-based teleconferencing systems to distribute the audio while not offering a toll-free line for international participants.
What do you think is the perception that Macromedia creates in users outside of the US with these kind of offers?
Isn't Web conferencing meant to replace travel for people who are at great distances? So, since this is a service that is designed to serve international customers more than next door neighbours why exclude such large portion of potential customers from such a promotion?
Well I guess I am not sitting on the correct part of the world to test this tool in full, and given the amount of effort I have already invested without success in trying to get Macromedia to allow me a free ride to review their new tool I will happily pass on this one.
Too bad, as I perceive Breeze to be an interesting technology for delivery of presentations online but having had no hands on it and knowing Macromedia past licensing options in this direction (read high prices) I am certainly not going to recommend this tool in a while.
What's your take on this?
Do you treat customers like Macromedia does, or do you really allow your customers, independent of race and location to try out your technology before they buy?
