Microsoft Mulling a Zune Phone?

Techtree News Staff, Sep 05, 2007 1405 hrs IST

The software major has reportedly stated sans confirmation that a mobile phone based on it's Zune digital media player 'is not an unreasonable move'.

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Rumor has it that Microsoft may soon start developing a device billed to be a potential Apple iPhone killer.

The software major has reportedly stated sans confirmation that a mobile phone based on it's Zune digital media player 'is not an unreasonable move'.

The phone will likely be called the 'Zune Phone' and will be a competitor to Apple's iPhone. The iPhone is currently available only in the US exclusively from AT&T.

Talks about a Zune-based mobile phone from Microsoft are not entirely new. Ever since the launch of the Zune, there's been a buzz doing the rounds of industry.

Even when the Zune was launched, it was talked about as a potential iPod killer, which really never happened. Going by reports, the Zune failed to gain the kind of popularity that the iPod enjoys.

All said, observers think a phone based on the Zune, if it were to happen, would be a good move on the part of Microsoft as the company already has a presence in the smart phone market with it's Windows Mobile platform.

USER COMMENTS

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by riyansh, mumbai, on Sep 10, 2007 01:32 PM, Report abuse Reply

Why MS wants to bring iPhone Killer? Why not to Bring something Innovative & better than other PDA Phone? You are Software Giant, please do NOT come down from your position down.

by Vilas Pathak, Riyadh, on Sep 07, 2007 12:07 PM, Report abuse Reply

The Zune brand is one and done. I was disappointed with the over-hyped "iPod killer" features, and from what I've heard/read, a lot of people feel the same way too. I'll never buy a Zune again, whether it be another music player, phone or paper weight (aka first-generation zune). Besides, with exception to the [weak] FM radio reception capability, the soon-to-be-released iPod Touch trumps all the once-touted "iPod killer" features of the Zune.

by J. Doe, Anytown, on Sep 06, 2007 12:43 AM, Report abuse Reply

"Even when the Zune was launched, it was talked about as a potential iPod killer, which really never happened. Going by reports, the Zune failed to gain the kind of popularity that the iPod enjoys." That deserves consideration for understatement of the decade. It's kind of like saying "The Edsel failed to gain the popularity that the Honda Accord enjoys." The iPod is on it's way to becoming the best selling music gadget of all time and the Zune is going down in history as a New Coke level failure.

by Mattjumbo, Durham, on Sep 05, 2007 06:04 PM, Report abuse Reply

An iPhone killer... like Zune was the iPod killer... The smell of certain success? Or not?

by Stein, Kongsberg, on Sep 05, 2007 05:32 PM, Report abuse Reply

Microsoft cannot innovate, it can only copy. But thats pretty fair as said: It doesn't matter who has better product but it matters who can sell the product.-

by Anonymous, a, on Sep 05, 2007 02:16 PM, Report abuse Reply

Havent you heard of the M$ Surface ? That my friend is what i call innovation

by Vinay Shivakumr, Bangalore, on Sep 05, 2007 03:40 PM, Report abuse

Hey genius, Microsoft didn't innovate Surface. They bought a small company that innovated Surface and called it their own innovation.

by ANONYMOUS, McKee, on Sep 05, 2007 04:16 PM, Report abuse

The zune was disappointment (well I own one)... with that experience, I would not dare to buy Zune phone. I will buy Nokia's Iphone

by Zune, B'lore, on Sep 05, 2007 03:56 PM, Report abuse Reply

Let em stop showing down their DRM nonsense into every orifice of their craappy products and people might consider buying them.

by drmkiller, atlanta, on Sep 05, 2007 03:05 PM, Report abuse Reply