Microsoft's Phonelines Aren't As Busy Since Win 7

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Ring, ring, ring, ring, Windows phone!

A vocal few of you expressed shock and horror at one tech support firm's report saying that some Windows 7 users do indeed experience technical difficulties, but you may be pleased to know that fewer people than ever are calling into Microsoft's telephone support system.

Microsoft said that the volume of calls to its support lines since the release of Windows 7 is half of what it expected.

"Overall we are finding our call center volume is down significantly more than we expected," said Barbara Gordon, vice president of customer support for Microsoft, according to CNet.

Evidence so far suggests that Windows 7 is faring better than Windows Vista, which equates to fewer calls into Microsoft. Another contributing factor is that people are going online in search for answers to their problems before they pick up the phone.

New online avenues such as Microsoft Answers and Microsoft's Twitter Help feed.

"What we have found is we are seeing far more take-up of self-service...forums and Twitter to get responses," Gordon said.

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Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
42 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Glorian
    That's pretty awesome, but unfortunate for "James" the middle easterner who answers your call after the computer talks to you. How will his company ever pay him 5 cents an hour for outsourcing phone networks?
    Reply
  • SevWarfare
    I'd have to agree that I've had little to no headaches with 7.
    Reply
  • pullmyfinger123
    maybe it's because people gave up on Microsoft completely,

    or realized they know more about windows and its fixes than the average Microsoft Customer Support people.
    Reply
  • lvlouro
    Either it's more stable or people are pirating more.
    Can´t say, still using XP till I upgrade my rig, it can handle 7 but I want all the extra fps XP gives me :)
    Reply
  • tommysch
    Do phone support still exist?
    Reply
  • Hatecrime69
    on one hand it could signal that 7 is less prone to issues than past versions, on the other hand it could say people have given up on microsoft to support them and are doing it themselves..i'm leaning more towards the second myself :)
    Reply
  • mman74
    Well I haven't called them yet ... because I haven't bought it yet.
    But I will. Buy Win 7 that is, but I don't think I will need to call support. I am quite miffed at the slow performance of Vista on my laptop.
    Reply
  • Socnom
    Is the data based on Consumer Calls or Business Calls?
    Reply
  • Maxor127
    Sounds like it's just corporate BS. It's just Microsoft saying calls are half of "what it expected." They could've expected anything. There's no context to provide perspective or data to back it up. And less tech support calls could mean anything from lack of problems to just lack of faith in tech support being helpful. I can't imagine ever calling Microsoft unless it had to do with activation BS.
    Reply
  • flyinfinni
    Thats some very good news for Microsoft.
    Reply