Egadget just gave the scoop on Microsoft offically offering $44.6 billion to acquire Yahoo! to take on the mighty Google (you can read the official letter HERE).  What could this mean for Zune?  Well, I'm glad you asked...read more...

This merger (if it even happens) may have implications to continue on improvements on the Zune (although I don't think that's the main reason - it's Google MS is after).  But you've heard of Yahoo! Unlimited, right?  They were the ones to start innovative ideas with Sandisk to bring you that other wi-fi enabled MP3 player called the Sandisk Sansa Connect.  The Sansa Connect can do the following:

• Personalized streaming LAUNCHcast radio over an open wi-fi network
• Unlimited music downloads for $12/month direct over Wifi from Yahoo! Music Unlimited
• Dynamically updated “mix lists”
• Share music recommendations with friends via Yahoo! Messenger (or would it be Live Messenger....your friends wouldn’t even need the Zune)
• Photos from Flickr

With the acquisition of Yahoo!, could Microsoft look to enabling some if not all of these features on the Zune?  The Zune already has wi-fi connectivity, and the Sansa Connect proved to be a formidable competitor offering wi-fi features Zune does not.

I'm sure there are larger legal ramificiations and I wouldn't expect to see an update following the merger (again, if it even happens) that suddenly puts LAUNCHcast radio on your Zune, but adding Yahoo functionality in some way would definitely be something that is very plausible.  If nothing else, the combination of Yahoo and MS would extend the possibilities and horizons for the Zune.

In other words, don't hold your breath.  But if the merger DOES happens, the future looks brighter for Zune (Sorry Sandisk...lol)!! 

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Nick   | 24.154.181.xxx | 2008-02-01 07:31:58 Would this mean, if the merger actually happened, that we could use Rhapsody.com and Zune Marketplace to add content to our collections/Zunes? Reply | Quote 0   0

ACE   | 98.192.190.xxx | 2008-02-01 07:35:52 Rhapsody? That's not even tied to either Yahoo or MS. No, I wouldn't look to see Zune getting onto Yahoo unlimited either. What is being suggested here is with Yahoo's ideas being brought to the table, we could see some of the functionality of the Sansa on the Zune (but Rhapsody wouldn't be one of them) Reply | Quote 0   0

crochetgrl   | 147.72.103.xxx | 2008-02-01 08:38:08 Rhapsody is tied somehow to SanDisk. I remember getting some fliers and information in the box with my Sansa. Reply | Quote 0   0

DivingDancer - Can you say "Zune Live"?   | 64.9.85.xxx | 2008-02-01 09:44:37 Here's the real impact for Zune: 1) Yahoo has the largest online music library in the world. With the purchase, Microsoft would gain access to the collection. That would bring the Zune Marketplace to parity with the offerings of the iTunes marketplace. 2) Yahoo has several million subscribers to its streaming music service. I can see this service being merged with the Zune Social, the streaming capability being merged into the Zune client, and the whole thing being rebranded as "Zune Live" under Microsoft's Live ininitiative. That's my take. Reply | Quote 0   0

Nick   | 24.154.181.xxx | 2008-02-01 16:02:14 Actually there's a music player called the Sansa Rhapsody. Which ties in directly to that music store and has all the features of the Sansa/sanddisk line mp3 players Reply | Quote 0   0

ACE   | 98.192.190.xxx | 2008-02-01 17:31:04 Rhapsody and Sandisk are not a part of this merger offer. I only mentioned the Sansa because it takes advantage of some of the wi-fi abilities of yahoo unlimited! I don't know why people are talking about Rhapsody and/or Sandisk further than that. Yes, Rhapsody does do things with Sansa, but what does that have to do with Yahoo or MS? Reply | Quote 0   0

Anonymous - haha..   | 24.58.53.xxx | 2008-02-01 21:16:24 Is Microsoft aiming to be even more of an underdog competing for the top spot? ipods are unfortunately more popular than zunes; goggle is used more than yahoo....hmm. Reply | Quote 0   0

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