Rumor Mill: Is Microsoft Making a Zune Smartphone?
By Phil Goldstein
Rumors are circulating of a possible Microsoft smartphone based on the software giant's Zune digital music player. Code-named "Pink," the phone will use technology from Microsoft's acquisition of Danger, the company that brought the Sidekick to T-Mobile.The phone may be set to debut as early as January at the Consumer Electronics Show or at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, according to a report on CNBC.com.
Rumors have swirled for more than a year around whether Microsoft would be readying a Zune-branded phone. Microsoft, as late as June of this year, denied any kind of development of such a phone.The most obvious competition for the phone would be from Microsoft nemesis Apple and the iPhone 3G. While Microsoft's position in the mobile space has been limited to the widespread use of its Windows Mobile platform, a foray into handset manufacturing would put it squarely into competition with Apple and other phones that double as digital music players. [FierceWireless]
Microsoft: Zune Software Coming to Windows Mobile
By Jason Ankeny
Despite Microsoft's repeated denials it plans to release a converged Windows Mobile/Zune multimedia-enabled phone, CEO Steve Ballmer revealed in an interview with CIO that the firm plans to adapt the Zune software platform for implementation in the Windows Mobile OS.
"At the end of the day, one of the big trends is that all content is going digital," Ballmer said. "And if we don't have the software and services that are useful, helpful and valuable for the consumption of music and video, we are sort of not really a player. Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software--and what you'll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc."
Asked by CNET News to clarify Ballmer's remarks, a Microsoft spokesperson said "We've always said that software and services is a key focal point for Zune and it does make sense to extend the Zune experience to other devices. In terms of specific timing we have nothing to announce at the moment."
Strictly speaking, Ballmer's comments do not contradict earlier remarks by Microsoft entertainment and devices division president Robbie Bach, who in a summertime interview with The San Francisco Chronicle maintained the software giant is not working on a converged Zune/Windows Mobile device in spite of rumors to the contrary.
"We don't make phones ourselves. We don't have any plans to make phones ourselves," Bach said at the time. "Our focus is on the belief that a phone is a very personal thing. Different people want different types of phones. We think that is going to continue, and we think Windows Mobile is in a great position to service all those different opportunities."
Additional rumors surfaced in August that Nokia is at work with the Zune team to integrate Zune Marketplace content and services into its handsets. [FierceDeveloper]
Microsoft: Zune software coming to Windows Mobile
By Jason Ankeny
Despite Microsoft's repeated denials it plans to release a converged Windows Mobile/Zune multimedia-enabled phone, CEO Steve Ballmer revealed in an interview with CIO that the firm plans to adapt the Zune software platform for implementation in the Windows Mobile OS. "At the end of the day, one of the big trends is that all content is going digital," Ballmer said. "And if we don't have the software and services that are useful, helpful and valuable for the consumption of music and video, we are sort of not really a player.
Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software--and what you'll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc." Asked by CNET News to clarify Ballmer's remarks, a Microsoft spokesperson said "We've always said that software and services is a key focal point for Zune and it does make sense to extend the Zune experience to other devices. In terms of specific timing we have nothing to announce at the moment."
Strictly speaking, Ballmer's comments do not contradict earlier remarks by Microsoft entertainment and devices division president Robbie Bach, who in a summertime interview with The San Francisco Chronicle maintained the software giant is not working on a converged Zune/Windows Mobile device in spite of rumors to the contrary.
"We don't make phones ourselves. We don't have any plans to make phones ourselves," Bach said at the time. "Our focus is on the belief that a phone is a very personal thing. Different people want different types of phones. We think that is going to continue, and we think Windows Mobile is in a great position to service all those different opportunities."
Additional rumors surfaced in August that Nokia is at work with the Zune team to integrate Zune Marketplace content and services into its handsets. [FierceMobileContent]
Nokia, Microsoft at Work on Zune Integration?
By Jason Ankeny
While Microsoft recently refuted speculation it is at work on a converged Zune/Windows Mobile device, a new rumor circulating across the blogosphere suggests Nokia is currently working with the Zune team on integrating Zune Marketplace content. Citing "a well placed source within Microsoft," ZuneScene reports the software goliath and handset giant are collaborating on content delivery, not a Zune-based device--of course, the wrinkle here is that Nokia does not presently support Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS.
The source adds the deal between the two firms is not exclusive, meaning Zune content and services may also surface across other device portfolios. If anything, it seems more credible to believe Microsoft is at work on a Zune integration effort with any handset maker other than Nokia, if only because the company has invested so much effort into its own Comes With Music service. [FierceDeveloper]
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