image credit: arstechnica

The future of Windows 8 and the path Microsoft are clearly taking their OS down is all about Apps and User Experience. We can expect more integration and continual investment by Microsoft towards delivering this combination, rather than just relying on third parties and partners. Windows 8 is all about the merging and blurring of the lines between User interface, OS, Hardware and Apps. With Windows 8 (and Windows RT) launched on the back of probably the most extensive trial period of any software in history and on sale with new hardware devices being added almost weekly, Microsoft now need to deliver first class App experiences in its Modern UI start screen environment.

And they are hiring right now – for a Sydney based Manager to achieve this in International Markets (outside of US). Maybe even you?

In 2012 Microsoft globally introduced an in-house news/editorial area to gather and deploy content to the new App experiences powered by Bing it was delivering with Windows 8 / Windows RT:

• News
• Weather
• Sport
• Finance
• Travel

All these services involve data, image, story and other partnerships with third parties; such as the MLB (Baseball league in US), tripadvisor, Fodor’s, Morningstar etc. With Live Tiles, these apps along with the Bing backend services aim to deliver a compelling user-experience to underpin the start-screen “Metro” environment.

Images (c) Microsoft Windows 8 Apps

Now Microsoft are advertising a critical role to drive this new OS App experience for world markets (outside US), and it based right here in Australia: AppEx (Application Experience) World Markets Prgm Mgr Job.

Per Microsoft’s overview in their job listing;

“With their superior user experience, applications are an increasingly common means of accessing the world’s information. Leveraging both Windows and Bing, AppEx (Application Experience) delivers 5 key verticals of information – News, Weather, Travel, Sports, Finance – as world-class apps pre-installed on Windows 8. AppEx World Markets (AWM) is a newly formed group within AppEx focused on creating a winning combination of UX, features and content for all 5 apps in international markets (ex-US). AWM is charged with helping each app become “best in category” in chosen markets, and to grow each market’s user base, engagement and monetization potential.”

Key responsibilities include:

• “Be the voice of the local user”
• “Be a keen student of local trends and evolving competition (competing iPad & Android apps, web sites, other media)”
• “Represent and balance ecosystem interests – user, advertiser, content partner – throughout the product lifecycle”
• “Work with Editorial, the local Executive Producer (EP), and business development to acquire and program content relevant to the local market”
• “Work with vertical product teams to develop services/products/features targeted at the local market”

Source MS Job listings.

Whether this is just regional Asia-Pacific focused - or more broadly for all non-US markets, it’s an interesting role which reinforces the need for Microsoft to evolve and improve these core App experiences. Much comment has already centred on some of the shortcomings of the inbuilt MS Apps (such as Mail). Think of the Nokia service and App platform which they bring to value-add to Windows Phone….and that’s where MS need to be. The days of the OS being enough alone are certainly gone forever!

So – if you are looking for a dynamic regional User Experience, content, partner and Project Management role on Windows 8 (and meet the significant job requirements from the role) – then we look forward to interviewing you here at WPDU six-months in on how the role is going!

Sheeds.