Briefly: Dell returns, MS Zune exec departs
updated 12:30 am EST, Thu February 1, 2007
Dell returns to help Dell
Briefly: With a bleak outlook and facing a growing assault by rival Hewlett-Packard, Dell ex-CEO Michael Dell said he will retake control of the company he founded, following the resignation of his protégé Kevin Rollins as CEO and board member; the announcement pushed Dell shares up by 4 percent to $25.14 in after-hours trading, despite the announcement that it expects fourth-quarter results to be below average Wall Street consensus estimates of $0.32 EPS on $15.3 billion..... A key Microsoft senior executive who oversaw the release of the company's Zune media player project, which reached about 10 percent marketshare in December, has announced plans to leave to pursue personal interests: Bryan Lee, Microsoft's corporate vice president of its entertainment and devices division, also played a critical role in shaping the Xbox game console business and the introduction of its Internet Protocol television software.
Verizon defends iPhone decision
Verizon continued to defend its decision to reject an exclusive iPhone partnership during Verizon's recent conference call: "the iPhone product is something where, quite frankly, we’re happy that we’re not first to market with the iPhone," Verizon COO Dennis Strigl said.
"We think that innovation and a focus on music will benefit the whole industry," the exec said. "It really does draw attention to our data capabilities... but bottom line on the iPhone, I think we’re -- many are interested in comparing a future offering with what we have in the marketplace today: it's like comparing apples and oranges."
In other words
02/01, 04:44am reply
The king of DULL returns, The Zune exec is sick of failure and the enbarrassment this is giving, and the Verizon CEO is a moron who will be eating his words faster than he can say s***!
jarod
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
Zune has 10% of market???
02/01, 09:22am reply
Where exactly did they get *that* figure?
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
re: zune has 10%?
02/01, 09:58am reply
A proctologist with a flashlight can probably show you.
Seriously, I think it was some lame retail-stores-only, 30GB-players-only statistic for the month of December. Conveniently leaves out Amazon and other online stores, where the Zune got shellacked by the iPod. Also leaves out the nano, which I believe was the best selling iPod model this holiday season.
~Philly
phillymjs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2000
woo-hoo mikey's back..
02/01, 10:00am reply
Kinda like Exxon bringing Joseph Hazelwood back to captain an oil tanker - good idea boys.
Z
zac4mac
Senior User
Joined: Oct 1999
Come on
02/01, 10:06am reply
Yes, I would be interested in the source of the figure as well. Especially, since the sources for such figures vary.
Moreover it would be nice if you mentioned whether that was overall market share, or just for hard-based players. What I read is Microsoft's over all share is around 2 percent.
Finally, most sources of such studies do not include sales from Walmart, Apple, or Amazon. Accordingly, what good are they?
Alright, one more point, why was that stat even important to the story since 1) sources vary, and 2) you didn't provide the source?
Terrin
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Joined: Jan 2006
Big loss for MS
02/01, 10:11am reply
Say what you will about MS, they did a great job with the console market. The guy who left was instrumental in the Xbox's success and his inclusion on the Zune project was touted as a reason it could succeed. Guess that was wrong.
torifile
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Jan 2001
Mikey
02/01, 10:13am reply
There goes Mike Dell again. Its often said he secretly wishes he was Steve Jobs. So much so that he's been seen dressed like him, acting like him, and trying to makeover his company like him.
Now he's coming back to run the company he founded. Just like Steve. Man, next thing you know he'll want to tear down his historic home.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
Dell
02/01, 02:57pm reply
Maybe Mr. Dell will have the brilliant idea to shut the company down and give the money back to the shareholders...
CVB
cvbcvb
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Joined: Nov 2003
testudo
02/01, 03:16pm reply
First funny take by you this year. Congrats.
MacnnGregor
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Joined: Apr 2004