Howorth receives Honourable Mention for Microsoft Windows 7 launch

Howorth has received an Honourable Mention at the 2010 Platinum PR Awards. The award is for Microsoft Australia Windows 7 Launch: “Windows 7 Was My Idea”, in the product launch category. Following the lukewarm response from business users, technology influencers and the general public in Australia toward Microsoft’s Windows Vista in 2006, Howorth was engaged in May 2009 to generate buzz and build excitement for the upcoming launch of Windows 7 in October 2009 in Australia. Howorth’s tactics included negotiating for Windows 7 Review Code to be cover mounted on five of Australia’s top ranking PC magazines to build buzz among technology influencers in the lead-up to launch.

The Platinum PR Awards provide PR professionals the opportunity to showcase their best communications initiatives of the year and salute outstanding performance by individuals. Presented by PR News, the highly competitive program honours the best PR campaigns and smartest communications initiatives of the year.

Congratulations to the team involved.

Howorth shortlisted for Platinum PR Award

Howorth has been shortlisted a finalist in the 2010 Platinum PR Awards. The nomination is for Howorth’s Microsoft Australia Windows 7 Launch: “Windows 7 Was My Idea”, in the product category. The Platinum PR Awards provide PR professionals the opportunity to showcase their best communications initiatives of the year and salute outstanding performance by individuals. Presented by PR News, the highly competitive program honours the best PR campaigns and smartest communications initiatives of the year. The award winners and honourable mentions will be announced at an awards luncheon on 5 October 2010 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. For more information on the awards or to check out the details, click here.

Howorth achieved an honourable mention in the 2009 Platinum PR Awards for its Livewire campaign.

Steve Ballmer visits Sydney

Sydney was abuzz during Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s November 2008 visit and Howorth harnessed the excitement to secure extensive traditional and digital media coverage. The PR outreach served to bolster Microsoft’s presence in the Australian online media and underline its position as a technology visionary.

Ballmer was exclusively interviewed by Lateline Business and AFR BOSS magazine; appeared at Telstra’s Investor Day following a partnership announcement by Microsoft and Telstra; and spoke at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) luncheon.

A highlight was Microsoft Australia’s ‘Liberation Day’ developer event. More than 800 developers and 16 members of the media (including bloggers) flocked to the Sydney Convention Centre to hear Ballmer speak on cloud computing and Windows 7, with bloggers and Twitter enthusiasts filing directly from the auditorium.

Journalists unable to attend watched a live Webstream. Howorth also managed press interviews for Gianpaolo Carraro, Senior Director, Microsoft Corporation and Tim Sneath, Director, Microsoft Corporation.

This event alone resulted in more than 25 pieces of coverage in publications including The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, PC Authority, iTnews, iTWire, PC Authority and Sky Business News. In total, Ballmer’s two-day visit generated more than 60 pieces of coverage for Microsoft, the majority of which appeared online.