Technical support (also tech support) is a range of services providing assistance with computer hardware, software, or other electronic or mechanical goods. In general, technical support services attempt to help the user solve specific problems with a product—rather than providing training, customization, or other support services. In economics and marketing, a service is the non-material equivalent of a good. ... A Lego RCX Computer is an example of an embedded computer used to control mechanical devices. ... Hardware is the general term that is used to describe physical artifacts of a technology. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ...

Most companies which sell hardware or software offer technical support over the telephone or via various online media such as e-mail or a Web site. Companies and institutions frequently also have internal tech support for employees, students, or other associates. There are also many freely available tech support forums on the Internet, wherein experienced users volunteer to help novices. Look up Telephone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... A website, Web site or WWW site (often shortened to just site) is a collection of webpages, that is, HTML/XHTML documents accessible via HTTP on the Internet; all publicly accessible websites in existence comprise the World Wide Web. ...

Types of support

Technical support can happen through various media, including e-mail, live chat, telephones, applications (most often, instant messaging), faxes and technicians, although the most common is the telephone. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Online chat. ... Look up Telephone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Application software is a defined subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. ... A screenshot of PowWow, one of the first instant messengers with a graphical user interface Instant messaging or IM is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. ... A Samsung fax machine. ... A technician is generally someone in a technological field who has a relatively practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field, e. ...

Coverage of support

Technical support varies depending on the range of possibilities. Some things that are not supported in lower levels of support can be supported with higher level services: for instance, only direct questions can feasibly be addressed through SMS or fax; basic software problems can be addressed over the telephone; while hardware problems often need to be dealt with in person. SMS arrival notification on a Siemens phone Short Message Service (SMS) is a service available on most digital mobile phones (and other mobile devices, e. ...

Cost of technical support

The cost of support can vary. Some companies offer limited free support when their hardware or software is purchased; others charge by premium-rate telephone calls. (See ICSTIS.) Some are free by using forums, live chat, or email. Others offer support contracts. ICSTIS, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services, is the regulatory body for all premium rate telephone services in the United Kingdom. ...

See also

• Help desk
• PEBKAC

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Similar to PICNIC, Problem In Chair Not In Computer, PEBKAC is the acronym for Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair. Written PEBCAC, keyboard is replaced with computer. The phrase is often used within tech support (but not mentioned over the phone to the user who called) to refer to troublesome...

External links

• Forum - Club Vista - Help for Microsoft Windows Vista, troubleshooting help and drivers resource.
• Technical Support and Services at the Open Directory Project
• A review of tech support issues in relation to school systems integrating technology THE PROBLEM EXISTS by Steven M. Kolins, 2001.
• ZOLVED A free web community based technical support site.