iPad subsidies axed for Microsoft S&M fanbois Microsoft’s sales and marketing people can no longer buy iPads or Macs on the company’s dollar. Staff in Microsoft’s sales, marketing and services group are reported to have been told they cannot, as of mid-March, expense the Apple gear. The policy was outlined in an allegedly leaked internal memo from SMSG chief financial …
I would guess that since the unit actually working on MS software for Macs would by definition need those machines in order to do their work they would of course be supplied with them on the company's dollar. What the "baristas" in sales and marketing might fancy is another issue entirely.
There's no evidence at all that the MBU owns a single Apple product beyond an iPhone, at least that my take from the lamentable mess that is my office 2008 install. I'd imagine they use the iPhone to do a bit of informed guesswork on how it might work, then pray a great deal on release that at least something works. Well they didn't pray hard enough with Excel, which quits if I so much as look at it the wrong way.
Initially staff were allowed any account, then someone pointed out that the cost of doing 140k BACS transfers each month was outrageout, why not just get staff to have RBS accounts. You got fired (after appropriate warnings) if you didn't have an RBS account. Most staff just setup a transfer to their normal account.
As for mortgages, you got a fairly good discount, but crucially no arrangement fees, so that was a bit of a no-brainer.
"isn't a standing order also done as a BACS transfer?"
Doubt it. It will be an internal transfer from one account number to another, with the money never leaving RBS.
A BACS transfer is a payment via the BACS company, which then forward it on to the recipient, and charges the banks for the privilege.
Standard practice and very draconian.
In my branch network days, if I wanted to pay in, I had to inform my Manager and him sign the Credit slip alongside me. I was also obliged to disclose the source of the money, not maintain an account elsewhere and not borrow without written permission.
Things have slackened, but not by that much.
Personal financial probety is VERY important if you want to stay working for a Bank in the UK.
I've seen Microsoft reps using Windows on MacBook Pro for demos, can understand how the 'why buy a £2000 PC when a £1000 PC does the job?' question comes up if they are looking for savings - seem to recall reading Microsoft S&M has been going through some restructuring so that makes sense.
With Windows 8 (Intel) tablets already around it would also make perfect sense to knock iPad on the head. Unlike MacBook, iPad doesn't run Windows, spending cash to place iPads in the hands of public facing staff using iPad sounds nuts. Surprised they didn't stop all that last year.
In other news, a recent memo turned up telling AppleStore managers they must not stock Windows 7 PCs. Who'd have thought.
I would have thought it would be very good idea for the likes of Microsoft/Apple/Google to encourage their employees to use devices form competitors... on the proviso that they each write up their experiences stating WHY they have chosen an alternative product. Might be the best way for the developers of said products to get feedback on what could be done better etc, and would reduce the likelihood of not-invented-here syndrome from taking hold.
I'm surprised that people at MS even bother with iPods when they would have had staff discounted access to the superior, yet poorly promoted and supported Zune players. The second gen Zune 80 & 120 for example runs rings around the iPod classic and the Zune desktop player is miles better (as a media player) than iTunes ever was.
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