Microsoft Zune phone coming by end of 2007?

[Zuneologist]

CrunchGear broke the story yesterday and now it's spreading around the Net like wildfire: the very real possiblity (according to sources) that Microsoft is working on a Zune mobile phone that could be ready by the end of the year.

CG's sources suggest that it'll be a smartphone that works with the Zune marketplace and can sync with the Xbox 360. It will run an interface similar to that of Zune, rather than Windows Mobile, which makes sense if it's building on the Zune's capabilities.

The rationale behind allowing it to sync with Xbox 360s? Market penetration, and the ability to stream movies over the net via the Xbox and get them onto the phone.

As with all rumours and whisperings, there's not much more to go on than that at present, but I'm sure we'll be hearing much more about it over the coming months.

What's interesting is that neither Apple nor Microsoft have their own mobile phone on the market, so it could be argued that the playing field could be more level when it comes to how they compete with one another. They'll both be playing catch up to the major mobile players though, and it'll be interesting to see how they both attack the market.

What Apple have is a loyal following, and a huge hold on the MP3 player market - something Microsoft can't yet say about their Zune. If both companies choose to play on the strengths of their respective media players, Apple has the upper hand.

Microsoft certainly have the clout and the cash to bring something to market in this time frame, particularly if there's been R&D going on behind closed doors. It'll be a very busy year for them, though, with lots of shiny new offerings: Vista, Office, Zune, Zune phone.

How much will Ballmer shout and jump about in 2007?

ref: Techdigest

[monstergamer]

thats cool long as it does not have that huge price tag that Iphone had

[Zuneologist]

im not sure if i feel the same way about this. I think Microsoft should try securing the mp3 player market by making the Zune better, before running off into the cell phone industry..

[monstergamer]

Originally Posted by Zuneologist

im not sure if i feel the same way about this. I think Microsoft should try securing the mp3 player market by making the Zune better, before running off into the cell phone industry..

i agree with what you say, i just think that they might do the phone "zphone" to stay with apple and not let them get tooooo far ahead.

[Mitch]

waste of time in my opinion...they need to stick with the original zune and just keep that ahead of iPood.

[jmmhooper]

I am reading this is bogus...anyone else reading that too?

[lpxxfaintxx]

According to Ceasar from Zuneinsider, the rumor is not true, or is misleading.

[dead jim]

Originally Posted by lpxxfaintxx

According to Ceasar from Zuneinsider, the rumor is not true, or is misleading.

right, but his actual quote is, "Zune is all about connecting people to their music. It makes sense that Zune could be a part of a phone experience. But there has been no determination of how that will be executed or when it will happen."
that's awfully noncommittal. that's exactly the kind of thing you would think a guy whose job it is to be an outlet for official news would say about something that, while true, wasn't ready for official announcement. of course, that's not to say that this rumor is true, but it is to say that you can't tell that it isn't from what ceasar said.

[sokal20]

Originally Posted by monstergamer

i agree with what you say, i just think that they might do the phone "zphone" to stay with apple and not let them get tooooo far ahead.

I totally agree. They should focus on the Zune player before they run off and start something else. Plus that way it will give them an opportunity to see what faults or the critics dislike about the iPhone. Then they can turn around and use that to their advantage.