A Call to Zunes: Microsoft's Need to Expand Zune's Market to Flourish
This week saw the release of the new generation of Zunes that heralded in a new entire system. Touchscreen combined with a nVidia Tegra chip ensures that the user will be sure to enjoy a powerful media experience... but only in the United States? What gives?
Microsoft has Windows releases in practically every major language, and on all major continents, and countries? So why haven't they done the same with the Zune?
If it's just that Microsoft doesn't release hardware outside the United States, that would be untrue. The Xbox 360 has proven to be a successful console outside the home country of the Microsoft Corporation, but yet the Zune has yet to even be introduced into those very same markets that the Xbox 360 is now enjoying success in. It leaves a resounding “Why” upon all users lips, and minds. Why would they not share the Zune HD with the UK or at the very least Canada?
There are Spanish, and French language settings that have been introduced into the Zune 2nd Generation with the 3.0 firmware. This would enabled the Zune to fit at home in markets where Spanish, and French were the dominant languages.
Is it just that Microsoft doesn't want to open a market where ever they cannot open up a Zune Marketplace alongside it? This author thinks this must be the case, especially with the push to make new users of the Zune HD or new users of the Zune 4.0 software to purchase a Zune Pass. The new Smart DJ feature tells the program users about how the experience could be better with pass. While this may be a good move to make the hardware profitable, it is in this author's opinion that it will hurt the chances for the Zune HD to take market-share away from competitors.
The Zune HD is a nice device, but limited market availability does hurt potential sales in markets where there is a clearly an interest, but having no access to purchase the device without using secondhand means, does off-put a large potential user base.
Thus, it should behoove Zune users to unite to push Microsoft into selling the HD in other markets. First start off somewhere easy, and close by such as Canada then expand to the European market. This is what will make the Zune hardware attractable to a larger audience as in the United States there is an supersaturation of portable media devices. The biggest competitor that Microsoft has in the United States spends massive amounts of money on advertisement so that they can buy the notion that their product is the only product in the average mindset of the populace.
To keep playing at this game puts Microsoft at a clear disadvantage. Why not play from the side, build up steam in other markets, and gather strength then push forward in the U.S. Market against the juggernaut. Or is this author asking Microsoft to do something that is quite far from being sensible?
Should Microsoft expand into other markets or just continue the fight in the United States?
- E.Dan Stebbins
Semi-related P.S.
For a possible expansion idea on the home front, they could work to getting Zune software up, and running on Mac OSX, and Linux. It would allow them to keep their Zune Marketplace, and Zune hardware / software sync, but would also allow developing countries, and others to get in on the Zune experience. After all, the largest portable media competitor has ensured their software works on their competitor's operating system. Just a possible idea to serve as food for thought.
you either beat the best, or you beat the best's younger sibling and get f***'d up by the best...
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The Zune HD is a nice device, but limited market availability does hurt potential sales in markets where there is a clearly an interest, but having no access to purchase the device without using secondhand means, does off-put a large potential user base.
thank you. even if the zune outsold the ipod touch by 2 times in the US, that wont get them very far in the long run
I agree. There should definitely be a Canadian release. Like seriously, you can translate stuff into Icelandic, why not release to a neighboring country?
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Teachers leave them kids alone,
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All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
Zune Thoughts: Why Isn't The Zune Launched Internationally Yet?
Zune Thoughts had this article about a week ago as to why the Zune isn't in other countries yet and it makes a lot of sense. If the device isn't doing well in your main country, it doesn't make sense financially to open it up to other countries. We may see people interested in the device in other countries when we go through forums like these, but that still doesn't mean the device will do well by going to those countries.
I thought the languages on the device were simply because they were the most common languages in North America. The US is primarily English but there are a lot of people speaking Spanish as well. And Canada would explain why French is available.
[quote=painterofwolves;425749]Zune Thoughts: Why Isn't The Zune Launched Internationally Yet?
Zune Thoughts had this article about a week ago as to why the Zune isn't in other countries yet and it makes a lot of sense. If the device isn't doing well in your main country, it doesn't make sense financially to open it up to other countries. We may see people interested in the device in other countries when we go through forums like these, but that still doesn't mean the device will do well by going to those countries.
quote]
it wasnt doing so well in the U.S. untill the release of the HD. now its sold out in most places. the other devices are already in Canada, so why not bring over the 1 we dont have and the marketplace. even for MS to say "we are considering release in Canada and the U.K." would be nice right now
yeah...why don't they just sell the zune in other places? There are alot of people who would be willing to buy it. =/
As seen by some of Zuneboards very own members like Charge, Darren (Vettexl), Jorvette, Netrix, and others who don't live in the United States but have gone through some alternate means to finally purchase, and own one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eppey1
you either beat the best, or you beat the best's younger sibling and get f***'d up by the best...
Ah, but the best expanded to other countries prior to becoming the full best, and thus was able to gather more funds to pummel others with advertising in the home country. So, do you keep trying to beat them when they can cover your device with adverts of their own device? Or do you dodge, and attack from two angles?
Quote:
Originally Posted by coryflett
thank you. even if the zune outsold the ipod touch by 2 times in the US, that wont get them very far in the long run
So true. Multiple fronts would be desirable in this affair instead of just beating against the wall of the strongest front.
Quote:
Originally Posted by J2800
I agree. There should definitely be a Canadian release. Like seriously, you can translate stuff into Icelandic, why not release to a neighboring country?
My sentiment exactly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daxspark
behoove lol
Exposing people to new words, one day at a time, I suppose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charge
I stand up to this. Maybe they released the French/Spanish to see how many users would use that language pack in their country.
It ultimately can't hurt them to expand their horizons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by painterofwolves
Zune Thoughts: Why Isn't The Zune Launched Internationally Yet?
Zune Thoughts had this article about a week ago as to why the Zune isn't in other countries yet and it makes a lot of sense. If the device isn't doing well in your main country, it doesn't make sense financially to open it up to other countries. We may see people interested in the device in other countries when we go through forums like these, but that still doesn't mean the device will do well by going to those countries.
Yet, in other countries there was a big interest prior to the Zune HD, and each time there were potential customers lost by just ignoring the interest. Remember this isn't a car being sold but a small portable device, it can be expanded a lot easier with little loss, and plenty of gain to show for it.
There was interest outside Zune forums around the release of the Zune 80, but the U.K. never saw the 80. Probably will hurt to release now, especially since they have been shafted again with the Zune HD release.
Quote:
Originally Posted by painterofwolves
I thought the languages on the device were simply because they were the most common languages in North America. The US is primarily English but there are a lot of people speaking Spanish as well. And Canada would explain why French is available.
I think the introduction of those two languages were more of a proof of concept for the Zune Team than inclusion for common languages. After all, the device is not being sold in Mexico or is it?
it wasnt doing so well in the U.S. untill the release of the HD. now its sold out in most places. the other devices are already in Canada, so why not bring over the 1 we dont have and the marketplace. even for MS to say "we are considering release in Canada and the U.K." would be nice right now
Good to know now that consideration is on the table, now Zune users can unite, and make that from a consideration to a reality.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusMaximus
Meh, opening the app store is a bigger deal to me, personally... and a 3d/shader capable API of course.
Application development will take time, after all, who had the API for the Applications prior to the HD's release?
Also, if it opened up to more markets, that means more people designing Applications, right?
Unless, more developers is not equal to more development.
coryflett: I completely agree that zune originals should ship to Canada.. If they are selling zunes to Canada, they should atleast provide Canada with the Zune services (INCLUDING MARKETPLACE... dumb CRTC)
coryflett: I completely agree that zune originals should ship to Canada.. If they are selling zunes to Canada, they should atleast provide Canada with the Zune services (INCLUDING MARKETPLACE... dumb CRTC)
It definitely does not make sense to stop you Canadians from using the Zune Marketplace. More Marketplace users = more profit for MS!
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I just purchased a Zune 4GB from Tigerdirect.ca, and I'm in love with it, and from the little that my wife has been able to play with it (I'm a little protective of it at the moment) she like it too, and is mildly considering buying the Zune HD so that she can watch movies and entertain our 2 kids with movies at doctors appointments and such. But as you can tell from the title of this post, the HD is not in Canada yet nor is the marketplace. Now I did hear a rumor that Microsoft is planning on a Canadian release around Christmas of 2009 (please do not quote me on this). I really hope that this is true as it would open up a whole new world for my "new" Zune, as well as show the world that that silly little fruity player that they are not the best.
I just purchased a Zune 4GB from Tigerdirect.ca, and I'm in love with it, and from the little that my wife has been able to play with it (I'm a little protective of it at the moment) she like it too, and is mildly considering buying the Zune HD so that she can watch movies and entertain our 2 kids with movies at doctors appointments and such. But as you can tell from the title of this post, the HD is not in Canada yet nor is the marketplace. Now I did hear a rumor that Microsoft is planning on a Canadian release around Christmas of 2009 (please do not quote me on this). I really hope that this is true as it would open up a whole new world for my "new" Zune, as well as show the world that that silly little fruity player that they are not the best.
i agree, but where did you hear that it was arriving in christmas? this would be very good news
They have to pay money just to make it in another market.
It's not as simple as "Here Canada here's some Zunes, knock yourself out,"
They often have to do stuff like trademarks, local laws, and flat out advertising. If the Zune was doing better I'm sure they would, though there are some markets it could do better in, not as harsh as the American iPod scene. The iPod is huge in some areas, it'll be EXTREMELY hard in order to kill of the iPod.
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They have to pay money just to make it in another market.
It's not as simple as "Here Canada here's some Zunes, knock yourself out,"
They often have to do stuff like trademarks, local laws, and flat out advertising. If the Zune was doing better I'm sure they would, though there are some markets it could do better in, not as harsh as the American iPod scene. The iPod is huge in some areas, it'll be EXTREMELY hard in order to kill of the iPod.
it wasnt that hard for all the other zunes, it wouldnt be hard for the zHD, and its not like MS needs to worry about there spending money as it stands
A Call to Zunes: Microsoft's Need to Expand Zune's Market to Flourish
