“We’ve just received a sound tip that Microsoft is working on its very own phone to be branded under the Zune moniker. Our tipsters inform us that Microsoft execs are in meetings today hammering out details of the device and developing strategies and timescales for its release,” Blake Robinson reports for CrunchGear.
“It will be a smartphone that works homogeneously with the Zune marketplace. It will most likely not, however, run Windows Mobile. Rather it’ll make use of an interface similar to the current Zune,” Robinson reports. “The other detail that seems certain at this point is that the device will, if things go as planned, be available for the ‘07 holiday season.”
Full article here.
Yeah, you know, because the Zune was so successful and the Zune brand is so widely respected. We think we heard Steve Jobs’ laughter about Microsoft’s weak attempt to freeze the market with their usual vapor from across the continent. In other words, Microsoft talks about their so-called plans for the future as if they think people will hold off on other phones so they can get their very own brown Zune Phone. Microsoft: operating as if this is 1993 instead of 2007. Note to Microsoft: people are more knowledgeable today and they aren’t impressed with your products; see related article: PC World writer’s advice for Microsoft: ‘Stop making crap’ – July 27, 2006
A related CrunchGear article from Monday reports, “Over the weekend we stopped by our local overstock and discount store in Seattle and were shocked—shocked!—to find a stack of nearly a dozen brand-new, unopened Zunes selling at $168.” Full article, “Zune Goes Discount, Contributes to $289 Million Loss for Microsoft,” here.
Related articles:
Buh-bye: Senior Zune exec exits Microsoft – January 31, 2007
Report: Microsoft Zune screens cracking from overheating battery pressure – January 31, 2007
Last quarter: Microsoft lost $289 million on Zune, CE devices – January 26, 2007
RealMoney’s Comeau predicts: ‘Microsoft will kill the first Zune media player by midyear’ – December 16, 2006
Desperation time? Microsoft Zune already being discounted by retailers – December 13, 2006
Microsoft Zune plummets to 5th place in U.S. digital media player market share with 2.1 percent – December 04, 2006
Analysts: Microsoft needs to ‘rethink’ as interest in Zune fades fast – December 01, 2006
Microsoft’s Steve Jobs-wannabe J Allard has 9 iPods and uses an Apple Mac – November 28, 2006
TheStreet.com: It’s not looking good for Microsoft’s Zune; bad press may taint brand for years – November 24, 2006
Amazon’s bestselling MP3 players list chronicles Microsoft Zune dud – November 20, 2006
Apple files US patent application relating to iPhone/iTunes Store wireless transactions – February 01, 2007
O2, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile battle for exclusive rights to Apple iPhone in UK – January 26, 2007
Rogers to offer Apple iPhone exclusively in Canada – January 25, 2007
Research in Motion downgraded due to Apple iPhone competition – January 23, 2007
RealMoney: Apple just blew up the whole damn mobile-phone supply chain with its new iPhone – January 11, 2007
eWeek: Apple iPhone fallout: ‘They must be crying in Nokia-ville and other telephony towns today’ – January 10, 2007
Jefferies downgrades Motorola on fears of market share loss to Apple iPhone – January 10, 2007
The massive FUD campaign against Apple’s iPhone ramps up – January 10, 2007
Time: ‘iPhone could crush cell phone market pitilessly beneath the weight of its own superiority’ – January 09, 2007
Analyst: Apple iPhone should be given its own category – ‘brilliantphone’ – January 09, 2007
Apple debuts iPhone: touchscreen mobile phone + widescreen iPod + Internet communicator – January 09, 2007
Could MicroSloth put out a few more “me too” ideas and products? That’d be great. :/
Next thing you know Steve Ballmer will be doing WindowsWorld keynotes wearing a giant oversized sweat-soaked black turtleneck.
Yeah, isn’t that just damn AMAZING!?! Microshaft spreads FUD about how they plan on having something to compete with Apple’s iPhone right during the Christmas buying season when Apple will be making waves. Microsoft: You are ass-wipe.
I know this has been posted before, but there already is a Zune phone.
Let them release one. The Zune helped Apple by showing that the king wears no clothes. Vista is doing the same. The more that Microsoft copies, the better Apple looks.
I do love that clip, hehe, though I realize it is sarcasm. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Microsoft should quit while they’re this far behind. You’re shareholders will love you more if you keep the losses down. Microsoft electronics division = huge losses, big losers.
those numbers (lost 289 million) must be wrong
other wise MS lost a million dollars on each of the 289 Zunes they have sold to date
I bet the Zune phone will have buttons.
It has a real keyboard to satisfy tech. industry experts like John Dvorak. The actual working model will probably be a bit larger and heavier. The display is not pictured because the prototype they were using was cracked.
It said contributed. The losses were for Microsoft’s entire consumer entertainment division (Xbox, Zune and whatever other crap they make).
Q: why hasn’t Microsoft released a phone until now?
A: no source of “inspiration” yet.
MDN keyword “evidence” as in…does anyone really need any more??
truth decay, does it have VOIP
Too funny – first Balmer & Co. say they looked at doing a phone and didn’t think it was an area they could be competitive in (and said AAPL would have a hard time)… and now this.
Please tell me it comes in brown. Hahahahaha!
Here I sit,
broken hearted.
I came to Zune,
but only farted.
Yes, it has VOIP but you’ll need to supply your own CAT-5 line to connect with other users.
you know, I’m willing to be Steve Ballmer’s name wasn’t even Steve originally…I think he changed it when he saw what Apple’s CEO was doing…someone check into that.
gforce,
No, but Jobs was BORN first:
Jobs: February 24, 1955
Ballmer: March 24, 1956
Leave it to Ballmer to copy being born!
“Steve Ballmer’s name”
His middle name is Anthony. The last person who jokingly referred to him as “Fat Tony” is in a shallow grave behind MS headquarters covered under thousands of splintered office chairs.
I have to admit it, MS is good for a laugh now and then.
I checked eBay and looked at completed listings. I found 1,960 Zunes that have been offered in the last 25 days. The price sweet spot for a brand new Zune appears to be about $207. That’s 40% off suggested retail.
I’m skipping the iPhone and Zune phone. I have to save up money for Zune TV with a 30″ Zune Display.
Zune Tang, Zune Tang, Where are you Zune Tang???
ZT: “vaporware iPhone is dead in the water”
Well, its not fair ZT – you obviously had advance warning of the fabulous iPhone-beating Zune phone…
If MS run true to form, the Zune phone will be a rebadged version of an unsuccessful phone in an unattractive colour and with a terrible name. A Motorolla ROKR with lipstick perhaps?
Brown lipstick?
If true, then it would seem that Apple have got Microsoft more than a little rattled. More worrying for Microsoft shareholders must be the prospect of yet more MS cash being pumped into a “me-too” catch up product which won’t make money for years, if ever.
The xBox division is apparently still making huge losses, and now it seems that we are starting to see Zunes on the “bargain” tables in the stores. I have seen a few Zunes on eBay too – “store returns” seems to be a common reason cited in the eBay ads…
Hey Zune Tang – snap up a bargain while you can eh?
“we stopped by our local overstock and discount store in Seattle and were shocked—shocked!—to find a stack of nearly a dozen brand-new, unopened Zunes selling at $168. That’s about 25% off the going rate of $229 we’ve been seeing around ze Web, making it a good deal for someone looking for a Zune.
The question is, however: Is there actually anyone looking for a Zune?”
Someone should ring that store in Seattle and give them Zune Tang’s email addy… I believe ZT’s Mum is still using ZT’s old Dell Ditty and DESPERATE for an upgrade to the iPod-beating brown brick…
Hey ZT – is this what you meant by “Apple is losing chunks of market share”? At only $168 these machines must be literally flying off the shelves…
Where are all the MS shareholders? Have they all made so much money in the past they can blindly let this madness continue? It is all good with me though, I enjoy laughing at their expense.
@hotinplaya
Your math is wrong.
See the post by Gregg Thurman.
Microsoft sold at least 1,961 Zunes. (1,960 store returns on eBay plus the one Zune Tang has). He was going to buy another one for his Mum, but he gave her his old Dell Ditty instead.
Nice one ZT.
@Truth Decay
That is very cheeky.
But you are not quite right. Its not the new Zune phone. It’s Vista without the lipstick…