Share Your Favorite Office 365 Feature for a Chance to Win

Every day, millions of people like you rely on Office 365 to get the job done—whether to complete a financial report, work together on a presentation, or wrap up a speech while traveling.

We want to know how Office 365 makes your life easier. Specifically, which feature you can’t live without. In return for sharing your answers, you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win an Xbox 360 Console with Kinect.

We’ve made it simple to enter our Why Microsoft? Re-tweet Contest. Simply re-tweet your answer to the question—“which Office365 feature do you rely on most?”—and you’ll be good to go. Read on for the entry instructions and official rules.

How to Enter:

  • Follow @WhyMicrosoft on Twitter.
  • Re-tweet the contest message with your answer at least once during the entry period, Monday, December 3rd at 12:00pm PT through 5:00pm PT on December 5th, 2012.
  • Format your message as follows: [ANSWER] RT @WhyMicrosoft which Office365 feature do you rely on most? #whyMSFT RT for a chance to win! Rules https://bit.ly/TrCfLS
  • Click here to auto-populate your Twitter feed—simply enter your answer and click to Tweet. Alternatively, if you want to provide additional context around your response, simply post a comment on this blog post and include your Twitter handle (@username) in your comment.
  • There is a limit of 3 different and unique entries per person, regardless of entry method.
  • The winner will be announced here, on the Why Microsoft blog, and the @WhyMicrosoft Twitter feed at 4:00pm PT on December 6th, 2012.
  • Complete contest rules below.

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”Why Microsoft” Sweepstakes

OFFICIAL RULES

PLEASE NOTE: It is your sole responsibility to review and understand your employer’s policies regarding your eligibility to participate in trade promotions. If you are participating in violation of your employer’s policies, you may be disqualified from entering or receiving prizes. Microsoft disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for disputes arising between an employee and their employer related to this matter, and prizes will only be awarded in compliance with the employer’s policies.

COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:

These are the official rules that govern how the ”Why Microsoft” Sweepstakes promotion will operate ("Sweepstakes"). In these rules, "we," "our," and "us" refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of this Sweepstakes. "You" refers to an eligible Sweepstakes entrant.

WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
The Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 P.M. PT December 3, 2012 and ends at 5:00 P.M. PT on December 12, 2012 (“Entry Period”). The Entry Period contains two separate Prize Periods as follows:

Prize Period 1: 12:00 P.M. PT on December 3, 2012 - 5:00 P.M. PT on December 5, 2012 Prize Period 2: 9:00 A.M. PT on December 10, 2012 - 5:00 P.M. PT on December 12, 2012.

A separate drawing will be held for each Prize Period. Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible 

CAN I ENTER?
You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements at time entry:

  • You are a registered Twitter account holder who has agreed to “follow” the Twitter feed @whymicrosoft and you are 18 years of age or older; and
  • You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and
  • You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes; and
  • You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: Microsoft is committed to complying with government gift and ethics rules and therefore government employees are not eligible.

This Sweepstakes is void wherever else prohibited by law. If you have not reached the age of majority in the jurisdiction where you legally reside, you should ask your parents’ permission before entering.

HOW DO I ENTER?

To enter, you must have, or sign up for, a free Twitter account at https://twitter.com. Then you must log into your account and follow “whymicrosoft” by visiting https://twitter.com/\#\!/whymicrosoft and clicking on the Follow icon. 

Then respond as instructed below with your personal, honest and true opinion to the respective Contest Question during each Prize Period to be entered into each drawing. The statement that you Tweet or post will be considered an “entry.” Non-winning entries in Prize Period 1 will not roll over into Prize Period 2; you must enter each separately.   

Prize Period 1:

Enter one of the following ways:

  1. Respond via Tweet to the question, “Which Office365 feature do you rely on most?”  

From your own Twitter account you must tweet your answer with the following elements to qualify:

 ‘Answer’ + ‘RT @whymicrosoft’ + ‘answer to the question, “which Office365 feature do you rely on most?” + #whymsft’ + ‘Rules: https://bit.ly/TrCfLS

By way of Example:

Track Changes RT @whymicrosoft which Office365 feature do you rely on most ? #whymsft Rules: https://bit.ly/TrCfLS

  1. Post any salient comment to WhyMicrosoft blog at https://bit.ly/TrCfLS To be eligible for entry, the comment must state your Twitter Username.

Prize Period 2

Enter one of the following ways:

  1. Respond via Tweet to the question “why is Office365 a better choice than Google apps?”  

From your own Twitter account you must tweet your answer with the following elements to qualify:

 ‘Answer’ + ‘RT @whymicrosoft’ + ‘why is Office365 a better choice than Google apps? #whymsft’ + ‘Rules: https://bit.ly/TrCfLS

By way of Example:

  1. Features RT @whymicrosoft why is Office365 a better choice than Google apps ? #whymsft Rules: https://bit.ly/whymsft Post any salient comment to WhyMicrosoft blog at https://blogs.technet.com/b/whymicrosoft/To be eligible for entry, the comment must state your Twitter Username. 

Limit 3 different and unique entries per person per Prize Period, regardless of entry method. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive for any reason, or for entries that we receive but are not decipherable for any reason.

We will automatically disqualify:

  • Any incomplete or illegible entry; and
  • Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described above

Twitter is not affiliated with and does not endorse or sponsor this promotion.

WINNER DETERMINATION AND PRIZES

Within three days following the end of each Prize Period, one winner will be randomly selected from among all eligible entries received to win an Xbox 360 250GB console with Kinect (Approximate Retail Value $399 each). Total ARV of all prizes, $798. The odds of winning are based on the number of eligible entries received each Prize Period. Limit one prize per person.    

If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by direct message to your Twitter account. In order to receive a direct message from Sponsor, you must be following @whymicrosoft and (b) have account settings set to “unprotected” and/or “public.” If a potential winner does not respond and comply with the instructions in the direct message within 72 hours after Sponsor sent the direct message or is not in compliance with these Rules, he/she will forfeit the prize and Sponsor may select an alternate winner in his/her place.

If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, we will consider the authorized account holder of the Twitter account used to enter the Sweepstakes to be the potential winner. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and a W-9 tax form or W-8 BEN tax form within 10 days of notification. If you are a potential winner, but are considered a minor in your place of legal residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf. If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select a runner-up.

If you are confirmed as a winner of this Sweepstakes:

  • You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services. However, if for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value; and
  • You may not designate someone else as the winner. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, we may award it to a runner up; and
  • If you accept a prize, you will be solely responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize; and
  • If you are otherwise eligible for this Sweepstakes, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and
  • Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer's warranty and / or terms and conditions.

WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS AM I AGREEING TO BY ENTERING?
By entering this Sweepstakes you agree:

  • To abide by these Official Rules; and
  • To release and hold harmless Microsoft and its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Sweepstakes, or any prize won; and
  • That Microsoft's decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Sweepstakes; and
  • To grant to us a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicenseable and transferable right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your entry (which includes your personal, honest and true opinion) and all its content in connection with this Contest; (ii) reproduce, copy, modify or alter your entry with all known all later developed means; and (iii) feature your entry in connection with the promotion of this Contest and Microsoft in all media (now known or later developed).
  • ThatMicrosoft may use of your entry, proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Sweepstakes, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?
This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Sweepstakes.  

WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE SWEEPSTAKES CAN'T RUN AS PLANNED?
If someone cheats, or a virus, bug, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure) affects the fairness and / or integrity of this Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Sweepstakes. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes.

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future Sweepstakes, so please play fairly.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHO WON?
You can obtain a list of confirmed winners by sending an email with your first and last name and email address to ttai@microsoft.com with the subject heading "Why Microsoft winners". Requests must be received by February 5, 2013. 

WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052

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