Microsoft sets price for Zune, songs
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Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O said on   Thursday its new Zune music player will be sold at a price   matching Apple Computer Inc.'s AAPL.O market-leading iPod   and, as a result, lose money this holiday season.
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Microsoft today unveiled details of its highly anticipated Zune media player in the latest bid to rival Apple's iTunes/iPod combination.
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Microsoft Corp. slashed $50 from the price of its Zune digital media player Wednesday, the same day Apple Inc. was expected to unveil additions to its market-leading iPod line.
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Microsoft said last week that it had met its previously stated goal of selling one million Zunes by the end of the company's fiscal year, which occurred on June 30.
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Blog: Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division reveals that 1 million Zune MP3 players have been sold since the product launched last year.
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Microsoft's highly-anticipated "Zune" portable media device is set to make its first official appearance at an invite-only press event Thursday. The unveiling will follow the introduction of a completely revamped iPod lineup by Apple just two days earlier.
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The MP3 player will let music fans give other Zune users a taste of their collections -- a cool feature that could turn the iPod generation green with envy. In Listening Post.
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It's not just about Apple's music players. Microsoft's Zune player also got a little less expensive today.
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Microst says its Zune music player will cost $249.99 in the US when it goes on sale on 14 November.
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Microsoft Corp.'s Zune music player looks a lot like an iPod, acts a lot like an iPod and will cost about the same as an iPod. The software giant said Thursday that it will charge $249.99 for the device, signaling that it isn't planning to spark a major price war to gain market share.
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Microsoft Corp. said yesterday it expects to sell 1 million of its new Zune music players through the first half of 2007. That figure pales in comparison to Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod, but Microsoft contends it would be a good start.
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(InfoWorld) - The first Microsoft Corp. Zune products will hit U.S. retailers in time for the busy Christmas holiday season, with a 30G-byte digital media player and a Zune Marketplace online service the first to reach consumers, Microsoft said Thursday. The details of what Microsoft is offering with its Zune product line -- which will compete with Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod device and iTunes software and service -- sound similar to what Apple already offers, with a couple of exceptions. In addition to allowing users to play music, videos and photos on a screen, the Zune player will include wireless technology and a built-in FM radio tuner. So far, iPods lack either radio tuners or built-in wireless technology. Zune's wireless technology will allow users to share songs, playlists and photos between Zune devices, Microsoft said. A user can listen to any song they receive up to three times over three days, after which they must purchase it from the Zune Marketplace if they wish to continue listening. The Zune Marketplace, like iTunes, allows users to purchase media and manage their own media libraries. Users can purchase music tracks individually or buy what is called a "Zune Pass," a subscription service allowing users to download as many songs as they want for a monthly fee. The Zune device will come in three colors -- black, brown and white. In addition to viewing media on the 3-inch screen, users also can customize the screen with personal photos or themes, Microsoft said. In another deviation from Apple's plan, Zune devices will come preloaded with content from record labels. Labels that are teaming with Microsoft to provide music for the players include TS, EMI Musicâs Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records and V2/Artemis Records. After months of speculation, Microsoft confirmed in July that it was developing a music player and service to rival Apple's iPod and iTunes. If other attempts to unseat the iPod are any indication, Microsoft will have a tough road ahead. Recently, Dell Inc.Â stopped selling its DJ Ditty music player on its Web site and ended development of its own line of music players. Still, iPod market share has fallen in the past year, leaving room for rivals in the market. At one point the music player had more than 80 percent market share by analysts estimates, but the latest reports give the iPod a little over 70 percent market share. In addition to the devices and the online service, Microsoft also will offer three Zune accessory backs that will be sold separately and will be available at the same time as the Zune devices. The Zune Car Pack includes a built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger. The Zune Home A/V Pack includes five products that integrate Zune with a television and music speakers: Zune AV Output Cable, Zune Dock, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter and the Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock. And the Zune Travel Pack offers five products for traveling with the Zune device: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter. Like Apple, Microsoft also is working with accessory manufacturers to provide more add-on products for Zune devices. Among the companies with whom Microsoft is teaming are Altec Lansing, Belkin, Digital Lifestyle Outfitters, Dual Electronics, Griffin Technology, Harman Kardon and JBL, Integrated Mobile Electronics, Jamo International, Klipsch Audio Technologies, Logitech, Monster Cable Products, Speck, Targus Group International and VAF Research.ADVERTISEMENTMAKE SOA REAL WITH IBM WEBSPHERE PODCASTStreamline processes and maximize efficiency within a proven service oriented architecture. Take back control of your business processes with IBM WebSphere.
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Blog: During Microsoft's July 19th 2007 earnings report, it was announced that sales of Zunes met their predicted goal of one million.
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Microsoft Corp  cut the price  of its Zune digital music player on Wednesday by $50 to $199 in  an attempt to rev up sales of the device competing against  Apple Inc's  iPod.
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Microsoft Corp.  said on  Thursday it will launch a 30-gigabyte "Zune" portable media  player, the software maker's answer to Apple Computer Inc.'s   market-leading iPod, in the United States this holiday  shopping season.
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newsmaker There's still a lot Microsoft wants to do with Windows, and it has its work cut out with Zune,  CEO says.
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Microsoft insists its music store differs from iTunes, but the two services sure have a lot in common. The company will sell songs for $1 like Apple, and plans to match the volume of songs Apple makes available to users.