NOTE: To be eligible to apply and be selected, the business and its employee participants must be based in the U.S.
The purpose of the campaign
First of all, what is Box.net?
Since 2005, Box.net has made it easy for more than 4 million users and 50,000 businesses to share, manage and access all their content online. We want to provide a Cloud Content Management platform that makes content accessible and sharable where people need it most. Learn more about Box and Cloud Content Management
What is this all about? Why is Box.net doing this?
Like many of you, we're excited about the iPad. We're excited about it as gadget geeks of course, but we're also interested in the way iPads - and mobile devices in general - influence how businesses use, share and collaborate around their world of content.
Along with launching our new Box App for iPad, we wanted to do something big to help answer the question, "Is the iPad ready for business?" We decided to take this question straight to the people that could answer it best - business users themselves.
We want to find a business - either one that's totally new to Box or one that currently uses Box - and put up to 20 iPads in their employees' hands, along with Box accounts and the new Box App for iPad. With help from our friends at The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), we also want to observe and profile how people use iPads in their daily work lives for a month.
We want to learn what the business likes, doesn't like, how the iPad benefits or doesn't benefit them. We want the whole story. And we want to share the story with everyone.
You're giving up to 20 iPads away to a business. What's the catch?
With help from the folks at Box.net and TUAW, we want a business that's willing to let us observe and share their story publicly - through journals, blog posts and video testimonials. It's a story lots of people are interested in hearing about and we want to share with everyone the potential of iPads and mobile devices as a core business device, particularly when they're used with business apps like the Box app.
What's in it for me?
First of all, you'll receive up to 20 iPads that you'll get to keep even after the program is over. And, if you didn't have Box before you were selected for the program, each participant in the business gets to keep a Box Business account for free for 12 months from the start of the program.
We also hope that a fleet of iPads equipped with Box will help you discover new ways to share, access and interact with business content, even in ways you might not have anticipated.
And last but not least, since we are doing a public profile of the business we select, your business will enjoy plenty of opportunities for free publicity (along with the free iPads).
How will The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) be involved?
Since 2004, TUAW has been focused on all things Apple and we're happy to have their help in profiling, observing and sharing with you what people have to say about Box and iPads in their business.
How to participate
How do I apply?
Provide a statement in 200 words or less about how your business could benefit from using iPads equipped with Box in your workflow and why you think your business is the ideal fit for testing how you can share, access and collaborate around business content with a fleet of iPads. Details that describe your business and how many employees you think could use Box and an iPad will also be helpful. If we're interested in learning more beyond your statement, we may get in touch with you and request additional details to consider your application for the program.
Be sure to include your name, company name and email address so we can get in touch with you.
When you're ready, upload it through our submissions widget on our iPad giveaway home page.
What's the deadline?
If you would like your business to be considered for the program, you must submit your statement by April 30, 2010.
What do I need to participate or be eligible in the program?
Willingness, time and official permission from your business to let members of the Box.net and TUAW teams observe, document and share how you're using iPads and Box in your daily business life. The specific requirements will be detailed in a participation agreement with the selected business (see below).
We only ask for a few hours of your time each week, collectively, to help us document your experience throughout the program.
Naturally, your privacy is of utmost importance to us, so we will treat your confidential information with care. We only want to know how you're using iPads and Box with your content.
Do I have to be a current Box user to participate?
No. If you don't have a Box account already, we'll help you set up a Box Business account (free for 12 months) for everyone in your business that'll be participating in the iPad program.
How will Box consider the submissions?
Box is looking for a business that has the perfect use case for iPads and a platform like Box for sharing and managing content in the cloud. We want to get a great sense of the potential you see in how iPads and Box can fit into and enhance your workflow.
Do I really need to limit my statement to 200 words or less?
Yes. We have to be fair. If your statement goes over 200 words, we will not consider it.
What you'll need if your business is selected
If my business is selected, what's next?
We will get in touch with you to verify your eligibility and put in place a participation agreement (see below) before announcing you as the selected business. Once your business signs the participation agreement, we will start working out all the logistics - approving the employees that will participate and receive iPads, shipping out the iPads, helping you set up Box accounts for users (if you don't already use Box), getting the iPads set up and going over how we'd like to document your experiences using the iPad, both from the journal updates and/or video testimonials we'll have you maintain and how TUAW would like to feature your story on their blog.
We'll have some of our best people available to help you get started. We want this to go as seamlessly as you do.
Will my company be publicly profiled? Do we have a choice?
Yes, we want to share your story on the Box and TUAW blogs, through a video documentary, a case study and other channels. It's why we're doing this - it's a story the public wants to hear about, so being able to feature your company and share your experiences publicly is a requirement to participate in this program.
What are my business' obligations/commitments in the program?
We want to document your experiences along the way, so we'll ask you to:
It may sound more overwhelming than it actually is. We won't get in the way of your everyday business or how you use iPads and Box with your business, but these are simply opportunities to document your experience throughout the observation period.
What will the participation agreement involve?
Box.net will provide the participation agreement to the selected company for review and signature. The participation agreement will define the selected company's participation requirements for the program and require the company to confirm its eligibility, allow for the company to be featured in a blog and promotional materials and allow Box.net to use any suggestions or feedback provided by the company. The agreement will require Box.net to provide the company with iPads, a video camera, help with setting up Box Business accounts and 12 months of free Box service, which the company may keep after successfully participating in the program. The agreement will also include terms to protect both parties' confidential information, as well as other standard legal terms.
The selected company must sign the agreement promptly after being selected to participate so the program can begin right away. Otherwise, Box.net may select an alternate company to participate in the program instead.
After the profile is over
Do we get to keep the iPads and the video camera?
Yes. We're asking you to do a lot in sharing your story, so it's the least we can do! But you must fulfill your commitments for the program.