Digital Journal — First, the good news: Microsoft recently unveiled plans to sell a portable music player known as Zune. The player should first appear in late 2006, with more models released in 2007.
Second, the better news: Zune will let people share and sample tracks via Wi-Fi. It will be compatible with the Xbox 360, PCs running Windows Media Center and mobile phones using the Windows Mobile operation system.
And the bad news? Well, it remains to be seen if Zune will be Microsoft’s attempt to innovate in a new market segment for the software leader or whether Gates and company will just be playing catch up. Zune will try to topple Apple’s dominance — Steve Jobs enjoys 50 per cent share of the global portable music player market.
In a recent statement, Microsoft said: “Under the Zune brand, we will deliver a family of hardware and software products, the first of which will be available this year.”
Time to rejoice? To reconsider your iPod wish list? Although more details about Zune have yet to be leaked, Microsoft’s official announcement about its MP3 player means this coming Christmas an old rivalry will elevate to a brawl-worthy level.
For many years, iPod languished as the top player. But Zune has enough buzz – and fascinating features – to potentially give Microsoft another impressive winner in its portfolio.
