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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
iTunes is in 23 countries. The Zune Marketplace is in one. Microsoft's US-centric approach with the Zune is maddening...I thought there was some light at the end of the tunnel when they launched the Zune in Canada last year, but we never got the Zune Marketplace here, and now the devices being sold here are being killed off. "Disaster" is a good word for how well the Zune launch went in Canada. Between the Zune HD being US-only at launch, and all of the IP-based geographic blocking madness that the Zune software and Web site does, it's like the Zune team is doing everything they can to alienate everyone in the world outside the US. More after the break.
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Has anyone heard what is the mindset at Microsoft in only offering the Marketplace to people residing in the US?
Of all the issues that come to my mind, I can't figure out how they can't overcome them.
1) Copyright - It seems that Apple has overcome any issues with copyright. Surely Microsoft's lawyers must be a smart as them.
2) Software challenges - C'mon. One of the biggest software companies in the world should be able to figure out how to make certain pieces of music or video or whatever available to one market region and perhaps not to another.
3) Financial - Microsoft seems to have no problem selling other stuff online to people outside of the United States.
4) Distribution agreements - Again something that Apple has been able to figure out. This is something that is neither hardware nor software in nature. If Microsoft only signed an agreement to distribute content in the United States, I'm sure that the content provider would not object to deriving revenue from other markets via Microsoft.
5) CRTC - Again something that Apple has been able to figure out.
6) Canadian Networks/Music Distributors - Again something that Apple has been able to figure out.
I've never seen an official statement from Microsoft explaining WHY Marketplace is not available in Canada. Sure we're only on market the size of California, but Apple has been able to find worth in an additional 22 countries as well as Canada, just what is up with Microsoft?
While I continue to read news articles about how Canada is a haven for illegal downloading, but as an owner of a Zune I have no other software alternative to legally (and conveniently) purchase items.
Sure, I suppose I could buy an iPod, but I could also push a hot poker into my eyes. (The following statement was made by a late '80's Apple fanboy. I owned an Apple II+ when it wasn't cool to own an Apple.)