Microsoft Stops Paying For Employees' iPhones...

[rdowns]

Link

and Blackberry's and Pre's. Even their own employees don't want to use Windows Mobile devices.

Microsoft's (MSFT) cost-cutting measures drove it to lay off thousands of employees. As expected, it also led to some perks being discontinued for its remaining employees.

For instance, Microsoft won't pay for its employees' Apple (AAPL) iPhone data service plans anymore, even if they're used significantly for work purposes. Nor will it pay for Research In Motion (RIMM) BlackBerry service, or a new Palm Pre. Instead, it will only reimburse data plans for Microsoft Windows Mobile-powered smartphones.

That's not particularly alarming: Many companies have never reimbursed employees for personally owned devices. And some relevant divisions will be able to keep the status quo. For example, we've heard that Razorfish -- the ad agency Microsoft owns -- is still paying for any mobile plan/carrier/platform.

But for many Microsoft employees who use their devices to do company work on the road, it no doubt feels like a shafting. Compared to the iPhone, new BlackBerry software, or even Google (GOOG) Android, today's Windows Mobile is clunky and unappealing. New, less-crappy editions are on the way, but that doesn't help today.

A Microsoft rep confirms that data plan reimbursement "is limited to Windows Mobile devices." They add: "This policy took effect as part of the broader cost saving measures announced earlier this year."

[AmpCoder]

Like the article says, its not particularly alarming. All of the companies I have worked for have not reimbursed employees for business-use data plans on personal phones, only on business-owned phones.

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by AmpCoder

Like the article says, its not particularly alarming. All of the companies I have worked for have not reimbursed employees for business-use data plans on personal phones, only on business-owned phones.

Well, I've always been reimbursed. <shrug>

What I found interesting was this...

A Microsoft rep confirms that data plan reimbursement "is limited to Windows Mobile devices.

[MorphingDragon]

Could this be linked to what Ballmer said? Now hes forcing his employees to use Windows Moble not just his children.

[bruinsrme]

Wow unbelievable, imagine MS not paying for data plans that are probably outside of their lower cost negotiated data plans.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

New, less-crappy editions are on the way

Not to derail the thread (and I know it's only a Yahoo article), but since when is it acceptable to use the word "crappy" in a news piece? Really strains the credibility of the author, in my opinion.

[Pika]

Originally Posted by IgnatiusTheKing

Not to derail the thread (and I know it's only a Yahoo article), but since when is it acceptable to use the word "crappy" in a news piece? Really strains the credibility of the author, in my opinion.

The word exist.

http://www.answers.com/crappy

[twoodcc]

Originally Posted by MorphingDragon

Could this be linked to what Ballmer said? Now hes forcing his employees to use Windows Moble not just his children.

it wouldn't surprise me

[niuniu]

Originally Posted by IgnatiusTheKing

Not to derail the thread (and I know it's only a Yahoo article), but since when is it acceptable to use the word "crappy" in a news piece? Really strains the credibility of the author, in my opinion.

Yeah I agree, you shouldn't use crappy usually in a piece of journalism, but in this case I think it may be a reference to a previous quote or something similar..

[dsnort]

Meh, MS has always had a "eat your own dog food" philosophy. Nothing new here.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Originally Posted by niuniu

Yeah I agree, you shouldn't use crappy usually in a piece of journalism, but in this case I think it may be a reference to a previous quote or something similar..

Ahh, okay.

[patrick0brien]

I'm impressed that iPhone users on any MS campus weren't summarily executed via a 16-ton pile of Bob.

Didn't even know they had the freedom.