- Users: Mobile operator connection manager applications on Windows 7 differed in user experience across operators and had poor usability. The applications also interfered with Windows connection optimization algorithms.
- Partners: Windows 7 connection manager was missing support for automatic switching to Wi-Fi, plan purchase, and bandwidth saving modes. Mobile operators complained that system processes like Windows Update would consume bandwidth.
- Windows architecture: Mobile operators wrote win32 applications that required access to low level hardware commands not available in Windows 8 application sandbox
Process:
- Expert-centered design techniques were used to design Windows components to enable trusted Windows 8 sandbox applications to access low level hardware commands necessary for account management and plan purchase user scenarios.
- Engaged with AT&T Mobility and Vodafone Group (Europe) on co-engineering Windows 8 sandboxed apps to validate partner scenarios
- Evaluated Windows 8 connection manager and mobile operator apps using usability tests to validate user scenarios
Product:
- Shipped a mobile operator friendly Windows OS with increased distribution through mobile operator channel. Windows 8 connection manager natively supported mobile broadband connections and offered mobile operator extensibility
- Shipped mobile operator account experience app platform in Windows 8 along with supporting documentation
My role: Product manager for mobile operator app plan purchase platform
- I used expert-centered design techniques to gather requirements, create UML sequence and user task flow diagrams used in software architecture design, and write functional specifications.
- I created strategy for authoring & publishing mobile operator platform documentation utilizing product management and freelance editorial resources in time for Windows 8 release
- I collaborated with AT&T Mobility and Vodafone Group (Europe) on co-engineering Windows 8 apps by contributing to initial value proposition pitch and collaborating with AT&T and Vodafone on co-engineering Windows 8 sandboxed app.
- I advocated for mobile operator scenarios and development schedules with other Windows OS teams to deliver Windows 8 apps shipped with Windows 8 Developer Preview and Windows 8 Release Preview.
- I advocated for mobile operators and coordinated technical troubleshooting of app and device metadata submission & onboarding in time for Windows 8 public beta releases.