In October 2004, about 30 technology enthusiasts from around the world came to our Redmond campus to take part in an early preview of the new MSN Search service and assist us in the development process. The Champs reviewed our product plans from the bottoms up, including the current and upcoming features as well as future ideas that hadn’t made it into our first version release. Our goal was to get constructive feedback and to obtain a view of our plans through fresh eyes. We were very pleased with the feedback and were able to make changes, based on suggestions from the Champs, that improved both our initial release and future release plans.
We are extremely grateful for the time and energy the participants dedicated to the program. Thank you, all of you.
Due to the success of the program we are now planning Search Champs V2 that will take place this April. The invites should be out within the next 48 hours. We worked hard in our selection process for V2 to ensure diversity, a wide range of backgrounds amongst the invitees, and fresh perspectives. The Search Champs V2 program has similar goals to the inaugural Champs program, and we are working diligently on an easier communications process based on some great feedback from V1. Oshoma MomohGeneral Manager, MSN Search Program Management