“Microsoft Corp. said initial sales of its Zune music player are in line with the company’s expectations amid reports of waning interest in the device that competes with Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod,” Dina Bass reports for Bloomberg News.
“Initial sales ‘indicate we are on track to meet our internal business projections,’ Zune Director Jason Reindorp said in an e-mailed statement. Microsoft has refused to disclose sales or projections,” Bass reports. “But a survey by Piper Jaffray & Cos. analyst Eugene Munster shows few retailers are recommending the device.”
Bass reports, “iPod, which has a 75 percent share of U.S. retail sales for such devices, is garnering more recommendations than a year ago, said Munster. Clerks recommended the iPod 75 percent of the time in the most recent survey, compared with 68 percent a year ago. Some clerks who spoke to Munster said they hadn’t even heard of the Zune even though the device was available at their stores.”
Full article here.
Microsoft certainly must have had low expectations. It looks more and more to us like the whole Zune fiasco was intended mainly to throw a monkey wrench into Apple’s next negotiations with the music labels than to be a viable product/service. If so, Microsoft is treating the few Zune customers they do have as pawns; that’s a pity, but it’s hardly surprising. Giving Universal Music a cut of device profits is a bad deal to which we don’t expect Steve Jobs to capitulate.
Related articles:
Universal CEO Morris wants iPod royalty fee from Apple – November 28, 2006
Microsoft’s Zune selling like snotcakes – November 15, 2006
Universal Music Group CEO calls iPod users thieves – November 11, 2006
Following Zune deal, Universal expected to demand iPod royalties from Apple – November 10, 2006
Microsoft to pay Universal for every Zune sold – November 09, 2006
Zune Tang isn’t even funny anymore.
The brown squirter isn’t even in the top 100. Just the black Zoon.
MW: Passed, as in “Microsoft passed up the chance to make a good product.”
If at first you don’t succeed, then lower your expectations.
😀 Booyah!
Microsoft’s “internal business projections” were for Zune to be 76th on Amazon’s electronics rankings? That’s a pathetic bit of spin…
Considering there are really only two Zune models (I’m assuming very few Zune customers picked brown), that’s even more pathetic. On the Apple side, there are more than a dozen different iPod models (probably more than 20 if you count the previous generation iPods still being sold as new). All those iPods models (and configs) are competing in the rankings again only two (or three counting brown) Zune choices. And the best Zune can do is 76th, with Apple holding six of the top ten spots. At least SanDisk is up there in a respectable spot. Too bad Microsoft screwed up a viable future for non-iPod media players with the PlaysForSure fiasco.
Connor MacBook:
Zune Tang was never funny. Quirky, sure. Odd, oh, yeah. Monotonous, absolutely. Peculiar, why not? Nonetheless, Tang epitomizes everything about Zune that Tang allegedly detests. Zune Tang is a freak of nature with limited capabilities who makes no apology for his limitations and deficiencies.
Connor MacBook:
“Zune Tang isn’t even funny anymore.”
I think of trolls as sort of like Ace pilots. When a pilot downs an enemy or blows up his target he puts a “stamp” on the side of his plane marking the event. Forum trolls likewise do something similar. Every post about them following their post is a “stamp” on their plane.
You’ve been shot down Connor, and are now a “stamp” on the side of Zune Tang’s plane.
For that matter I am too… >_>
Q. What is the difference between a Zune and an iPod?
A. A squirt and a gush.
Now here is a good one, courtesy of Zune Tang.
A: Way more Zunes than your ugly, hard to operate, copycat iPods. ‘Nuff said.
Actually not enough, since Zune Tang is all about revisionist history.
Hmmm copycat iPods, wow the Zune has been out a week and already Zune Tang points out that iPods are copycats.
Certainly not enough has been said on this topic and I am sure that Zune Tang can elucidate on the many features that the copycat iPod has incorporated from the Zune since it’s release last week.
Sure beats waiting for the “wait a year then you will see…”