source:techweb.com
Microsoft Corp. on Friday confirmed plans to launch its own portable music player and online music service to compete with Apple Computer Inc.'s market-dominating iPod and iTunes.
The software giant made the disclosure after the online version of The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft executive Chris Stephenson had discussed the upcoming products in an exclusive interview in the July 29 edition of Billboard Magazine. Stephenson is the new general manager of marketing for MSN Entertainment Business.
A Microsoft spokeswoman said the player and service would fall under the Zune brand name, which would eventually include a new line of hardware and software related to entertainment.
"The first product that will be offered will be a portable music player," the spokeswoman said. The music service would launch at the same time.
Microsoft declined to provide any product specifics, but said the player and service would be available this year.
Microsoft's entry into the market for portable music players has been rumored for weeks among bloggers and media. The Redmond, Wash., software maker has reportedly been frustrated with the failure of partners to build a portable player capable of taking on the iPod, which experts say accounts for two thirds or more of the market. Apple's music store iTunes holds a similar position.
The spokeswoman denied that Microsoft was entering the hardware market for media players because of partners' failure to catch Apple, saying that the company instead believes it can make money by building under the Zune brand a product line that combines entertainment hardware and software with an online community.
"(Microsoft) is proud of the work they've done, and will continue to work with partners," she said.
Until now, Microsoft has used the same strategy for portable players as it did in dominating the PC market with Windows. Rather than build the hardware, Microsoft had hoped partners using its Windows Media Player could build devices capable of beating the iPod.
Apple, however, has managed to stay on top through better design, ease of use and successful marketing. Competitors, on the other hand, have shipped a multitude of devices that have failed to match Apple's simplicity, and don't work well together, despite using similar software.
The disclosure came one day after Microsoft said its fourth-quarter profit fell 24 percent on legal costs related to its European Union antitrust fines. The company, which also announced a $40 billion stock buyback, reported that revenues for the quarter increased 16 percent to $11.8 billion on strong sales of its Xbox 360 video game console.
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a gaming console,now a music player
so what's next?????????//
Microsoft's Own Portable Music Player.
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