Dell launches remote tech support

Having an unknown individual take over your computer and make changes to your system is traditionally the preserve of hackers. But no more — Dell is launching a service for its customers that will do just that.

Instead of having PC users make calls to support staff over the phone, Dell has launched a new service called DellConnect that will let its support staff take control of a user's PC and solve their technical issues.

Among the computing headaches Dell's on-call techies are expecting to resolve are installing software drivers and adjusting users' settings.

While some users may have reservations about letting someone else take over their PC, customers will have to expressly give their consent for the remote access by entering a code, and that code will expire after a single session.

A Dell spokesman said: "You can't go back into a machine in the middle of night when people are in bed — the access rights won't allow it and obviously we wouldn't do it anyway."

DellConnect has already been used by Dell in the US where, it says, 95 percent of customers say the system makes solving tech foul-ups easier.

Dell has also bolstered its customer support with a couple of new additions, including Dell Chat, which patches them through to Dell advisors, and PC Check-Up, an app which will run a diagnostic check across the customer's desktops.

In related news, a recent Accenture survey found consumers of digital technology are frustrated with product complexity — and that services such as set-up support are high on their shopping list when it comes to selecting a brand. Poor customer service was also cited as a leading reason for product and service dissatisfaction.

Silicon.com's Natasha Lomas contributed to this story.