> Macs are macs, Windows is windows and mail is mail whether you're in Mumbai > or Memphis. As long as the language skills are good and the people are well > trained, it should be mostly irrelevant, IMHO.
The problem, IMO is that the sort of organization that wants to reduce labor costs from $11/hr to $1.50/hr (all numbers made up out of thin air) by moving tech support offshore is likely to be the sort of organization that reduces labor costs from $1.50 to $1.15/hr by moving tech support from an offshoring house that provides well-trained people with good language skills to one that provides warm bodies and asinine scripts. I'm know there are good tech support people in India-- I've dealt with some of them-- but the overwhelming majority of times I've ended talking to Indian tech support I've gotten people who are as fluent in English as I am in Hindi and as familiar with the technology they are "supporting" as I am with rebuilding transmissions ("not at all" and "not at all" respectively). That said, Merry Christmas to all and I hope Santa brought extra eggnog to any poor souls working tech support this evening, on any continent. :^) -- Dave Pooser, ACSA Manager of Information Services Alford Media http://www.alfordmedia.com