"Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday a Zune-branded phone is part of its future plans to expand in the digital music market, now dominated by Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod. "A Zune phone is definitely part of the future of this brand," Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Zune, told reporters at a news conference. He did not give specific details."
Bomb...dropped. A Zune phone? That sure came out of left field - what about Windows Mobile and Smartphones? If the Zune brand is a Microsoft "we build it" solution, that means Chris Stephenson is saying that Microsoft is going to build their own phones. That's one wild concept when you consider the impact it might have on Windows Mobile, all the partners Microsoft has, the carriers, and everyone else invested in the current offering. What about Photon, the next-generation version of Windows Mobile? This simple statement from Chris Stepheson is a bombshell - and it spawns dozens of questions.
My five-minutes-of-thinking-about-it take? Windows Mobile will continue moving forward, and Photon will stay on track. The Zune phone will be a narrow solution specifically aimed at the music-loving phone users, and be 100% entertainment-centric, lacking in the personal information management goodies we've come to expect from Windows Mobile phones. It will have a great media experience, but will be closer to a feature phone than a real Smartphone. In fact, I'm guessing it will be application-locked just like Portable Media Centers are - meaning no third party applications can be installed on it. So, in some ways, it will just be a really slick "dumbphone".
I asked a Microsoft spokesperson for an official response, and here's what he said: "Zune is all about connecting people to their music. It makes sense that Zune could be a part of a phone experience. But there has been no determination of how that will be executed or when it will happen."
Put a 30 gb hard drive in it, smooth looks, and a numbered keypad and I will definitely be interested. But don't take a Motorola E398 and call it an Itunes phone or Zune phone. I'm thinking Chocolate, hard drive, and a new skinned version of Microsoft Windows Mobile!!
In 10 years, phones will be in everything! It won't be a cameraphone, it will be a real camera with a phone. Music players are no different. It's only a matter of time.
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"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein
In 10 years, phones will be in everything! It won't be a cameraphone, it will be a real camera with a phone. Music players are no different. It's only a matter of time.
i can see it now, 3G video calling watches and a nice pair of loafers that can be substituted as a cell phone... wait wait wait, wasn't that dick tracy?
This is exactly my point. I don't what my 30D to be a phone and a music player. I like having separate devices. That's why I have a 2125, a 8125, an iPOD and 2 cameras. They are each quite good at what they do.
Zune Phone Part of the Future Plans
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