Zune

Microsoft acquires Musiwave for $46 million

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

It's a done deal: Mobile software and services firm Openwave Systems announced a definitive agreement to sell its mobile music subsidiary Musiwave to Microsoft for $46 million. Microsoft will also assume Musiwave's net debt, which totaled about $4 million at the end of the third quarter. According to Microsoft, Musiwave's relationships with record labels, device makers and mobile operators will ideally complement the software giant's Connected Entertainment technologies and services like Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live. "With the acquisition of Musiwave, we are deepening our position in the mobile entertainment market with an innovative provider to help broadly deliver a breadth of music software and services," said Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business senior vice president Pieter Knook in a prepared statement.

For more on the Musiwave deal:
- read this release

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Microsoft closing in on Musiwave acquisition

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

Microsoft announced it entered an exclusivity agreement to acquire white-label mobile music entertainment services provider Musiwave. According to Microsoft, the Openwave-owned company's relationships with record labels, device makers and mobile operators would ideally complement the software giant's Connected Entertainment technologies and services like Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live. "Microsoft and Musiwave share the same philosophy in working with hardware and mobile operator partners to deliver great experiences for mobile device users," said Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business senior VP Pieter Knook in a prepared statement. "Bringing Musiwave on board would provide an opportunity for Microsoft to explore new areas in the mobile space previously untapped, and to showcase the power of software plus services. This contemplated acquisition reflects Microsoft's recognition of the software and technology expertise in Europe."

For more on the pending Microsoft/Musiwave deal:
- read this release

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Microsoft: Zune phone a possibility

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Speaking at the Citigroup technology conference in New York City, Microsoft's entertainment and device division corporate vice president and chief financial officer Mindy Mount outlined the future of the software giant's Windows Mobile platform as well as its Zune portable media player, including a possible Zune-branded handset. According to Mount, mobile is the business that best plays to Microsoft core strengths like scale, software and services. "We really want mass and scale," Mount said, according to a ZDNet report. "If you have connections to people that will drive the opportunity to future revenue."

On the subject of the Zune, Mount said "We all feel that last year was a good, solid effort for first year. I'd give it a B minus. Some things were really great." The Zune positives include "some elements of hardware" and its video screen, Mount said--the negatives include its weight (a "little heavier" than anticipated) and the failings of the Zune video service. "In the next few years you'll see the continual evolution of that product," she added. "We don't have anything to announce right now for the holiday season." Mount added that while Microsoft has no current plans to enter the handset space, a Zune branded phone is a possibility, especially given that its hardware, software and services are integrated. "Clearly we do identify mobile being more integrated with photos and music," Mount said. "It's a natural thing to have in our product roadmap."

For more on Microsoft's mobile future:
- read this ZDNet article

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Microsoft mulling DRM-free downloads

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Microsoft announced it is in talks with EMI Music and other major record labels to begin selling DRM-free downloads for its Zune portable media player. "Consumers have made it clear that unprotected music is something they want," Microsoft spokeswoman Katy Asher said in an e-mail to the IDG News Service. "We plan on offering it to them as soon as our label partners are comfortable with it."

The news follows rival Apple's announcement that it will begin selling unrestricted content from the EMI catalog next month. Apple's iTunes digital storefront will offer DRM-free EMI content at a higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding--each track will cost $1.29, as opposed to the 99 cents Apple charges for downloads with DRM and 128 kbps AAC encoding.

Microsoft released Zune and its Zune Marketplace storefront in November 2006. Early sales reports suggest the device has done little to cut into the iPod market share: According to figures compiled by consumer research firm NPD, in February 2007 Apple controlled 73.7 percent of the U.S. portable music player market, while Microsoft claimed just 2.3 percent, behind SanDisk and Creative. Zune, a device touted for its wireless content-sharing capabilities, also has suffered from technological snafus preventing the service from working as promised, prompting Microsoft to issue a statement denying rumors that record labels are preventing sharing of songs by certain acts.

For more on Microsoft's DRM plans:
- read this PC Pro article

Rumor Mill: Microsoft developing Zune phone

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:01:35 -0500

CrunchGear reports a "sound tip" from within Microsoft that the software goliath is developing its own mobile handset, which it will brand under the Zune name. According to CrunchGear, the device will be a smartphone that will not run on Windows Mobile, but rather employ an interface similar to the existing Zune music player--the device will emphasize connectivity, and reportedly boast the capability of synchronizing with the Xbox 360 and streaming video from the system. Current estimates anticipate the phone will hit stores in time for the 2007 holiday season, roughly six months after the projected retail release of rival Apple's iPhone.

For more on the Zune handset:
- read this CrunchGear article

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Microsoft admits Zune problems, denies label blocking

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

Two months after introducing its Zune music and video player, a device touted for its wireless content-sharing capabilities, Microsoft has announced technological snafus are preventing the service from working as promised. "Wireless sharing is a new experience and its implementation is in a version 1.0 stage," Microsoft said in an e-mail statement distributed Monday. "We will continue to make it better." Microsoft also denied rumors that record labels are preventing sharing of songs by certain acts; the buzz even prompted Universal Music Group to issue a statement of its own, which read in part "Contrary to recent and inaccurate reports, [Universal] has not prohibited its artists from participating in the Zune service. Nor has UMG restricted the ability of Zune users to transfer their music wirelessly so that others can enjoy it."

Upon its release, Zune's sharing feature, dubbed Push, was cited as a critical differentiator separating the device from Apple's market-leading iPod multimedia player. The sharing problems seem to affect only content purchased via Microsoft's Zune Marketplace storefront; according to the blog Zunearama, 21 of the 50 current best-selling song downloads from Zune Marketplace cannot be shared.

For more on the Zune problems:
- read this WindowsITPro article

Related article:
- Zune launch details revealed

Zune launch details revealed

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Microsoft disclosed additional details about its upcoming Zune music player, including the launch date and price. The Zune will hit retail shelves November 14th, priced at $249.99. That price matches the cost of Apple's comparable 30GB iPod. Unlike the iPod, however, the Zune can share music files directly between devices, regardless of whether a WiFi hotspot is present. The Zune subscription service will run $15 a month, while a la carte tracks can can be purchased for 79 cents each. Additionally, users can apply their Microsoft Points credits from Xbox Live Marketplace to buy songs. There also will be a series of accessory packs available, ranging in price from $20 to $100.

For more details on the Zune launch:
- check out the CNET article

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Zune phone a threat to Windows Mobile?

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:01:38 -0400

OK now this is a bit of a stretch, but Taiwanese handset manufacturers are concerned that Microsoft's follow-up to the Zune digital music player, the recently-confirmed Zune mobile phone, will erode the market for Windows Mobile-based devices. My understanding is that users of the Zune device may be able to connect to and share music with mobile phones running Windows Mobile software--essentially making any Windows Mobile phone a potential Zune phone.

But even if Microsoft delivers on their promise for a dedicated Zune handset, I'm not sure how that entertainment-centric device would affect the broader Windows Mobile market, which is based, primarily, on business-oriented smartphones.

For more details on the Zune phone talk:
- read the DigiTimes article

And for the Zune phone announcement:
- read this article at Ars Technica

The Zune: unveiled

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:01:39 -0400

Microsoft finally unveiled the official details of its Zune digital media player. The key feature that the wireless entertainment field should focus on is the WiFi-enabled user sharing function. Zune users can wirelessly sync up, while connected to a hotspot, to share songs from device to device with other Zune users, who can then listen to a downloaded song for up to three spins, or for three days, whichever comes first. Shared songs can be flagged for later download when synced with a PC, as well.

Wireless carriers with music services could seriously undercut this if they'd only enable the sharing of content, and especially if they made that capability cross-carrier inter-operable themselves. In fact, I've always believed that carriers should be offering third-party music services rather than their own branded efforts, which would make this much easier.

No details yet on the Zune's pricing or availability.

For more about the Zune:
- see the CNET article

SPOTLIGHT: Wireless vs the iPod

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 20:01:34 -0400

A bevy of interesting developments unfolded in the MP3 player market last week: Apple paid Creative a $100 million lawsuit settlement, Dell discontinued its Ditty device, and Toshiba was named the real manufacturer behind Microsoft's pending Zune device. Some pundits are point to such news as proof that the standalone MP3 player device is in decline. They say it heralds the rise of the music-playing mobile phone in its stead. Article