“Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday it sees plenty of room for growth in the digital music player market as the company tries to dislodge Apple Computer Inc.’s dominant iPod with a device of its own,” Reuters reports.
“The digital music player market will eventually mushroom to hundreds of millions of units a year—up from a current rate of 30 to 40 million units per year, said Bryan Lee, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division,” Reuters reports.
Reuters reports, “Microsoft plans to heavily promote the wireless capabilities on its new digital music player, Zune, in order to position the device as an alternative to the iPod, which currently lacks wireless functionality, Lee said. ‘We want it to be the best music experience you can have,’ he said at a Citigroup investment conference that was broadcast over the Web. ‘You’ll see a lot of emphasis on community, a shared type of experience.'”
“The Zune, which is slated for release later this year, faces a tough battle against the iPod. Apple holds more than half of the digital media player market, according to research company NPD. In the United States, the iPod has more than 75 percent of the digital music player market, according to NPD,” Reuters reports.
Full article here.
Zune: Way too little, way too late.
Related articles:
Analyst: Microsoft’s Zune an ‘underwhelming’ repackaged Toshiba Gigabeat; no threat to Apple iPod – August 30, 2006
Microsoft confirms brick-like Zune to be made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
Microsoft Zune is chunky brick made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
RUMOR: Microsoft Zune’s user interface revealed in images – August 23, 2006
Details of Microsoft’s Zune interface, features exposed – August 17, 2006
Microsoft to sell single Zune model this fall, rumors of Wi-Fi capability were greatly exaggerated – August 10, 2006
Zune already shedding features? ‘iPod killer’ won’t offer video at launch – August 04, 2006
RealNetworks CEO Glaser a little miffed with Microsoft over Zune – July 28, 2006
Microsoft to spend hundreds of millions, several years on Zune trying to catch Apple iPod+iTunes – July 27, 2006
In wake of Zune announcement, should ex-Microsoft ‘partners’ join iPod ecosystem? – July 27, 2006
Zune: Apple cannot lose. Microsoft cannot win. – July 26, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft partners zune to be the biggest losers – July 25, 2006
In wake of Zune, Microsoft ‘partners’ consider abandoning PlaysForSure – July 25, 2006
Wi-Fi seen limiting battery life on Microsoft’s Zune – July 24, 2006
Why Microsoft’s Zune is doomed to fail – July 24, 2006
Bear Stearns analyst expects Apple to respond to Microsoft’s ‘challenge’ with new iPod innovations – July 24, 2006
Microsoft Zune? They should’ve called it the Microsoft ‘iClod’ – July 24, 2006
Enderle: Microsoft’s ‘iPod killer’ Zune is ‘brilliant strategy’ – July 24, 2006
Microsoft’s so-called ‘iPod killer’ Zune won’t zoom up the charts – July 23, 2006
Microsoft confirms ‘iPod Killer’ plans – July 21, 2006
Microsoft’s rumored ‘iPod killer’ poses little threat to Apple’s domination – July 18, 2006
Microsoft plans Super Bowl ad for ‘iPod killer’ – July 17, 2006
Sounds serious: Microsoft approaches iPod accessory makers for Zune would-be ‘iPod killer’ – July 12, 2006
Microsoft preps complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products – July 11, 2006
Photo of Microsoft’s ‘iPod killer?’ – July 11, 2006
10 reasons why Microsoft’s ‘iPod killer’ will fail – July 11, 2006
Enderle on what it would take for Microsoft to kill Apple’s iPod – July 10, 2006
Microsoft: ‘iPod killer’ reports based on ‘speculation and rumors’ – July 07, 2006
Can Microsoft hit a fast moving target? Apple likely to debut wireless iPod this year – July 07, 2006
Analysts: Microsoft faces uphill fight to supplant Apple’s iPod+iTunes market dominance – July 07, 2006
Microsoft plans to convert iPod users by replacing iTMS songs with free WMA format songs – July 06, 2006
Microsoft to release wireless ‘iPod killer’ by Christmas to challenge Apple – July 05, 2006
Analyst Wu: Microsoft unlikely to dethrone Apple iPod+iTunes – June 21, 2006
Microsoft preps iPod+iTunes killer – June 19, 2006
Report: Microsoft readying Apple iPod+iTunes rival – June 16, 2006
Microsoft: No iPod killer planned – June 05, 2006
Microsoft, Toshiba, DoCoMo, Victor to develop Japan iPod+iTunes killer – June 02, 2006
MTV-Microsoft URGE music service not targeting iPod, iTunes users; Real CEO PlayedForSure? – December 13, 2005
Report: Apple to bring out Bluetooth adapter for iPods – August 25, 2006
Patent application shows iPod capable of live wireless video conferencing – June 13, 2006
Apple patent application filed for wireless iPod+iTunes distribution – May 04, 2006
Generator Research: Apple to Ship $4.2bn in Wireless iPods (WiPods) by 2010 – March 14, 2006
Ready for your wireless Apple iPod? – February 09, 2006
Wireless iPod? CSR and PortalPlayer to bring wireless connectivity to personal media players – February 08, 2006
Wireless Apple iPods coming in 2006? – December 09, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Dell’s ‘DJ Ditty’ flash-based MP3 player is dead – August 22, 2006
More blood on Apple iTunes Music Store’s play button: MyCokeMusic is dead – June 20, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: iRiver gives up on digital media player market – May 23, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Sony’s Walkman Bean is cooked – February 13, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Dell dumps ‘DJ’ hard-drive MP3 player line – February 04, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: iRiver pulling out of Europe? – February 01, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Thomson gives up on MP3 player, CE markets – December 12, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: BenQ withdraws from MP3 player markets – November 28, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Olympus halts production of portable digital music players – November 09, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Rio is dead – August 26, 2005
Apple’s iPod has blood on its Click Wheel: Virgin Electronics is dead – March 08, 2005
Apple’s iTunes Music Store has blood on its play button: BuyMusic.com is dead – March 28, 2004
” Microsoft sees room in music player market for ‘Zune’ to challenge Apple’s dominant iPod”
I see room for growth in the front of my Levi’s
But that doesn’t meant it’s gonna happen.
Oops, bad spelling.
“We want it to be the best music experience you can have”
yet they’ll restrict it to Windows and WiMP. The statement rings false right from the start.
Yeah, there’s room for Microsoft in the iPod Universe…
There are PLENTY of seats in the BACK of the bus.
Here in Oz the latest iPod ad campaign has ramped up, obviously to clear out inventory and then dovetail into next week’s announcements. Zune will be stillborn.
“MacDailyNews Take: Zune: Way too little, way too late.”
ahh! I hear a Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams song coming on…
“Guess it’s over, call it a day…”
Clarification: I mean to say that requiring Windows and WiMP, they’re forcing users to use substandard products; obviously I don’t care two dimes that they won’t bother with Mac or Linux platforms.
“Zune: Way too little, way too late.”
It is never too late as no company can hold onto a market forever. Apple is being wise to not rest and continue to innovate.
Too little? Oh yeah, someone must really come up with something big to the point that Steve Jobs would say, “damn, I wish I had thought of that.” MS is under the false impression you can simply say, we have wireless so start a community.
No but really, I also think there’s room in the music player market for iPod challengers – its just not going to be Zune. Sorry MS.
Didn’t M$ used to say that the mp3 player market would shrink as cell phones took on more functionality? I wish they’re make up their minds.
Too funny.
Reuters reports, “Microsoft plans to heavily promote the wireless capabilities on its new digital music player, Zune, in order to position the device as an alternative to the iPod, which currently lacks wireless functionality, Lee said.
Once again, APPLE will push MS into the Obselesence Galaxy (right next to our own MILKY WAY!) before they even get started.
ipod- isn’t 75% too low?
magic word- “done”.
As in MS, your DONE.
MDN’s take should have been: “HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA . . . [gasping for breath] . . . HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA . . .
somehow ROTFLMAO just doesn’t make the coffee spewing through my nose laughter that the title generated.
brought to you by “others” as in there may be others, but certainly not Zune.
Microsoft Fails4Sure
enough said.
Whoops.
Obsolescence.
Words that rhyme with ZUNE
attune, baboon, balloon, bassoon, bestrewn, boon, buffoon, cartoon, cocoon, commune, coon, croon, doubloon, dragoon, dune, festoon, forenoon, goon, harpoon, hewn, immune, impugn, jejune, june, lagoon, lampoon, loon, lune, maroon, mistune, monsoon, moon, neptune, noon, oppugn, platoon, poltroon, pontoon, prune, quadroon, raccoon, racoon, rangoon, roughhewn, rune, saloon, shogun, soon, spittoon, spoon, strewn, swoon, teaspoon, tribune, triune, tune, tycoon, typhoon, walloon
GET TO WORK PEOPLE!!!
Creative Genius, you forgot poon and Camaroon.
I have several friends who got iPod alternatives. Every one of them is sad and hoping their player breaks soon so they can justify a real iPod purchase.
It’s such a waste of time for MS to pursue this. They should be focusing on getting Vista right instead of dicking around with an ugly iPod wannabe.
Why mommie is a democrat. Hahahahahaha. No daddie in sight.
The headline should read:
“Microsoft Still Delusional About Zune”
I see Microsoft continuing to dominate in the virus, trojan and spyware markets. That’s all.
Pissing their resources away on Zune should have shareholders demanding to know what the F*** is going on in Redmond.
I found my Zune was not immune to Trojoons in a Cameroonian saloon.
“The digital music player market will eventually mushroom to hundreds of millions of units a year—up from a current rate of 30 to 40 million units per year”
Great news for AAPL
Once my Zune sang,
I got no poontang.
I wonder if the wireless security will be as bad as their operating systems? What’s thew betting that there are more security patches downloaded from their site than songs?
I wonder if they will make a big song and dance about the 1 billionth security patch download?
Someone help me out on this… didn’t we see a post that wireless capability was already being taken out of the Zune?