International Zune Launch Dates

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.thechannelcheckers.com/2006/10/zune-updates-from-europe-launch-dates-could-differ-by-country/' target='_blank'>http://www.thechannelcheckers.com/2006/10/zune-updates-from-europe-launch-dates-could-differ-by-country/</a><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.zunerama.com" target="_blank">Zunerama</a> has some speculation on Zune launch dates, and they are as follows:<br /><div id="content"><ul> <li>United Kingdom: January 15</li> <li>France: January 15</li> <li>Italy: December 15</li> <li>Germany: December 15 </li></ul>This information (for the UK at least) comes from <a href="http://www.thechannelcheckers.com/2006/10/update-on-zune-launch-in-uk/" target="_blank">The Channel Checkers</a>, which is apparently a site that specializes in the retail channel and checking when stores expect stock of certain products to be in. Isn't the Web grand? The most amazingly specific sites can bloom!<br /><br />Regarding the launch dates themselves, I have to admit I'm a bit surprised - four added countries within 60 days of the USA launch is pretty impressive. Now where's Canada and Australia in all this (where us two Zune Thoughts editors are from). How does <a href="http://www.mp3.com/tracks/1599344/dl_streams.html" target="_blank">that song go</a>? Crying, waiting, hoping...</div>

[Darius Wey]

If this is true, it'll be interesting to see whether the aforementioned countries have access to the Zune Pass. I know many labels outside of the US do not favour the all-you-can-eat subscription model, which is probably the reason why iTunes operates via a pay-per-track model, just so they can keep their customer base more "global".