MS Zune takes on Apple

Microsoft this week said that it sees plenty of room for growth in the digital music player market as the company tries to dethrone Apple's own iPod music player, which has more than 75 percent marketshare in the US and 50 percent worldwide. The company said that it would promote its forthcoming Zune player using the expected wireless capabilities to differentiate the music player from other offerings, including Apple's iPod. "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, a Microsoft spokesperson told eWEEK. In addition, Microsoft said that 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: "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."

by MacNN Staff