Zune Marketplace Expands Elsewhere in the World - Sort Of [Archive]

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Jason Dunn

09-21-2010, 01:44 AM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/sep10/09-20zuneintlpr.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...zuneintlpr.mspx</a> </div>"REDMOND, Wash. - Sep. 20, 2010 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the further international expansion of Zune, its digital entertainment service. This fall, Zune will expand its music and video footprint and bring the free Zune software, Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service and enhanced features on Zune.net to new markets, providing a comprehensive entertainment experience on Windows-based PCs, on the go with Windows Phone 7 and in your living room through Xbox LIVE. "The integration between Zune, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE is an exciting expansion in our entertainment offerings," said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business Group at Microsoft. "Zune enables users to access the entertainment they want, wherever they want it - and now, more people than ever will be able to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that the Zune service offers." "<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1285026557.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" />No surprises here, except perhaps that Microsoft has failed to expand the world-wide reach of the Zune Pass as much as I'd hoped they would. I live in Canada and was hoping - no, expecting - to be able to get a Zune Pass to go along with my upcoming Windows Phone 7 purchase. Here are the highlights:<ul><li>The Zune Pass is coming to the U.K., France, Italy and Spain - consumers in that country will get the full subscription package for £8.99 / €9.99. However - and this is a bit of an issue for some - there are no free 10 tracks per month.</li><li>Music purchase is available in the U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Germany - this means MP3s from the Zune Marketplace.</li><li>Video purchases from the Zune Marketplace for the U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.</li><li> Movie rentals from the Zune Marketplace for the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.</li></ul>Is that a confusing mess, or what? As a Canadian, I can buy videos from the Zune Marketplace, and rent them, but I can't buy music? Or can't get a Zune Pass for the Windows Phone 7 device I'm pretty sure Rogers is going to be launching here in the next 90 days? Ridiculous. And why can someone in Ireland rent a movie, but not buy one? The Germans will be able to purchase MP3s from the Zune Marketplace, but they can't get a Zune Pass? And my head will explode if I try to figure out who can do what with Xbox Live - I've been able to rent movies from Xbox Live for months, but I can't rent them or purchase them on my PC.This not the unified vision I was hoping to see from Microsoft. This is a slapdash, fragmented effort that fails to deliver a solid entertainment experience to everyone in the countries Microsoft is supporting. Yeah, yeah, I know that this is complicated legal stuff, but if Apple can get it done, why can't Microsoft? I'm tired of having to use a loophole to purchase music from Amazon. I'm tired of iTunes being the only source for video purchases I have available. I was hoping Microsoft was going to deliver a solid solution here, and they haven't. It's no wonder Apple is kicking ass and taking names when this is the best their competition can do.The glimmer of good news in all this is that there's finally a new release of the Zune desktop software; I hope they've added useful features and improved performance, both of which are sorely needed.What's your take on this? Am I being too hard on Microsoft? Should I be patting them on the back for achieving a tiny fraction of the digital entertainment unity that Apple has been able to create?The remainder of the press release is after the break. <MORE />Zune software has been upgraded with new features and functionality and will serve as the Windows Phone 7 synchronization client. The new software (version 4.7) will be available to download for free in more than 20 countries, including the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Spain, to easily manage your personal collection of movies, music, podcasts and pictures. Zune software continues to set the standard for entertainment software, providing best-in-class experiences to organize, discover and enjoy digital media with a variety of exclusive features. For example, the Quickplay menu enables immediate access to recently played content and personal favorites, and Smart DJ 3 automatically creates playlists from your personal music collection and takes the extra step of mixing in suggested music from the Zune Marketplace. The updated Zune software will also enable instant streaming of high-definition movies, allowing you to watch some Zune Marketplace movies in HD, with no download time, directly on a Windows PC.Zune Marketplace online store is accessible from within the Zune software and offers the ability to purchase millions of individual songs or albums from its catalog, all in MP3 format. Here, consumers can also subscribe to Zune Pass,4 which provides unlimited downloads and music streaming capabilities from the Zune music library, including content from major music labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music and Warner Music Group, as well as thousands of independent labels. Zune Marketplace also has a large library of videos from major studios such as Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution for purchase or rental. Video purchases will be accessible through Xbox LIVE and Windows-based PCs, and can also be added to a Windows Phone 7. Simply buy your favorite video from Zune Marketplace and watch it on the screen of your choice.9Zune.net is the perfect resource for consumers as it allows them to download the software and set up a Zune account with a new or existing Windows Live ID.5 Zune.net will also provide Web access to Zune Marketplace so you can purchase music or use a Zune Pass to stream music directly through an Internet browser,6 as well as purchase video content.7<h1>Zune Expansion to New Markets</h1>As Zune expands internationally, its music and video service will be tailored for each market. Genre experts will custom program Zune Marketplace and feature the top songs, videos, movies and unique promotions for each country.The fall 2010 international expansion of the Zune music and video service includes the following:Zune Marketplace will extend services to several markets in Europe and beyond.• Zune Pass (U.K., France, Italy and Spain). The monthly music subscription service will be available for 9.99 euros /8.99 pounds per month for unlimited download and streaming access to the Zune music catalog and will be accessible on Windows-based PCs, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE. The offer in the U.S. will remain at $14.99 per month for unlimited downloads and streaming access, with the ability to keep 10 MP3s per month.• Music purchase (U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Germany). Expansion to these markets will enable consumers to purchase MP3s and listen on their Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 or any other device that supports MP3 format. Users will also be able to purchase music videos to enjoy on Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 and Zune on Xbox LIVE.• Video purchase (U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Consumers will now be able to purchase movies to download and watch anywhere - on the big screen in the living room with Xbox LIVE or their Windows-based PC as well as sync it to their Windows Phone 7 to enjoy on the go.• Movie rental (U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). In addition to Zune video on Xbox LIVE, consumers in these countries will now be able to rent movies for viewing on their Windows-based PC or choose to sync the rental to their Windows Phone 7.The global expansion of the service is the latest step in a series of milestones for Zune, including powering Bing music search results, the added ability to purchase music and video on Zune.net, and the forthcoming integration with Xbox LIVE and Kinect for Xbox 360. By continuing to integrate Zune across the most important screens to consumers, Zune provides an all-in-one music and video service for users to discover, enjoy and experience their entertainment wherever they want.

Macguy59

09-21-2010, 02:00 AM

This smacks more of a "Well we tried !" thing. I can understand why Apple would have more pull right now in terms of marketplace for their media devices but it's freaking MS. I find it difficult to believe Apple has all of the legal eagles.

Fritzly

09-21-2010, 02:13 AM

So no video in Italy and not Zune pass in Germany? The entire thing is so convoluted that MS seems a company that really get great stuff........ and smoke it!
I am speachless.......

ucfgrad93

09-21-2010, 02:24 AM

Geez, it took them what 4 years to expand out of the United States and this is what they come up with? Unbelievable.:rolleyes: I really think that MS just doesn't care about the music business and they are just going through the motions.

djrudiak

09-21-2010, 02:34 AM

No, you're not being unreasonable...

I can't for the life of me understand how Microsoft can have the legal resources across the globe to make sure they have the proper licensing agreements for their OS and applications but can't get their poop together to essentially replicate a model already used by Apple and iTunes.

I was seriously contemplating a move to a Windows Phone 7 device once they were available north of the 49th, but I'm beginning to wonder if I just shouldn't become one of the pod people. (As an aside, I would expect Bell and Telus to have WP7 devices as well on their new network...)

Jason Dunn

09-21-2010, 02:47 AM

I can understand why Apple would have more pull right now in terms of marketplace for their media devices but it's freaking MS. I find it difficult to believe Apple has all of the legal eagles.

Further, what I don't quite get is why the music and movie companies wouldn't want to embrace Microsoft's efforts - there's been much grumbling over the past few years about the dominance of Apple in this realm, and having a strong second player helps offset that dominance. :confused:

Jason Dunn

09-21-2010, 02:48 AM

Geez, it took them what 4 years to expand out of the United States and this is what they come up with?

Yeah, that's pretty much take on it as well - we wait THIS LONG and this is the best they can come up with? I've been patient for years, hoping that when the time finally came, Microsoft would really BRING IT. And they absolutely haven't. :mad:

Darius Wey

09-21-2010, 03:59 AM

Am I being too hard on Microsoft? Should I be patting them on the back for achieving a tiny fraction of the digital entertainment unity that Apple has been able to create?

No. Not at all. And ucfgrad93 explains why. Let's see what the next four years deliver (or, rather, don't deliver).

Adam Krebs

09-21-2010, 05:15 AM

Any word on when the software comes out? It looks like the only new feature they listed was instant HD streaming (and WP7 support, but that's a given). Anything cool for us current Zune owners?

Jason Dunn

09-21-2010, 05:17 AM

Any word on when the software comes out? It looks like the only new feature they listed was instant HD streaming (and WP7 support, but that's a given). Anything cool for us current Zune owners?

It's weird that they wouldn't mention anything about that, isn't it? My guess is that it will be released the day Windows Phone 7 is released to the public...meaning sometime in the next 60 to 90 days.

RichL

09-21-2010, 08:23 AM

So, in the UK, it's £1 cheaper than Spotify but with fewer devices supported (WP7 vs. iPhone/Android/Symbian/possibly WP7).

I wonder what the catalogue size will be like?

rck

09-21-2010, 04:14 PM

Any word on when the software comes out? It looks like the only new feature they listed was instant HD streaming (and WP7 support, but that's a given). Anything cool for us current Zune owners?

I hope they have some bug fixes included. My wife and I have Zune 30s. We have been struggling ever since Version 4.x came out with converted videos (and video podcasts) incorrectly displaying the used storage in the software after sync'd to the Zune. Once it is incorrect, you have to change the sync options to something else and then back before it corrects. I hope they spent as much time on new features as making sure the old ones for the current Zune owners work properly.

Janak Parekh

09-21-2010, 04:58 PM

Well, Jason, this may be one good reason why Apple doesn't do subscriptions. They have managed, over many years, to get a near-unified set of policies across the globe. Expanding that is really, really hard, especially since the labels are even more wary now since their role in the process is in jeopardy. :)

(And, before you guys wonder how Apple did it: not easily. Not easily at all. You may not remember the old days where Apple only had a store in something like 5 countries...)

--janak

Jason Dunn

09-21-2010, 05:20 PM

Well, Jason, this may be one good reason why Apple doesn't do subscriptions.

Indeed, you could very well be right. My belief is that Microsoft thinks the Zune Pass is the end-all-be-all differentiating feature, and they've put most of their effort into that - sacrificing the other efforts toward getting normal purchases of music and video content. I think that's a mistake; the Zune Pass is a unique, excellent benefit for some people, but having the baseline purchase/rental option across ALL supported countries is more important.

(And, before you guys wonder how Apple did it: not easily. Not easily at all. You may not remember the old days where Apple only had a store in something like 5 countries...)

I'm curious though, four years after the first iPod came out, how many countries did Apple support? I guess it's not exactly a fair comparison though since Apple started with music and only added video later. Still, I can't help but feel like Microsoft's success in this area is underwhelming... :(

Fritzly

09-21-2010, 05:23 PM

(And, before you guys wonder how Apple did it: not easily. Not easily at all. You may not remember the old days where Apple only had a store in something like 5 countries...)

--janak

Yes I remember the old days and I wonder how is it possible that the mighty MS and its lawyers after all these years have not been able to plan and come out with something better than what just announced?

Said that I have to give to MS that what they are offering is as convoluted as the licenses for its software........:-)

Janak Parekh

09-21-2010, 05:26 PM

I'm curious though, four years after the first iPod came out, how many countries did Apple support? I guess it's not exactly a fair comparison though since Apple started with music and only added video later. Still, I can't help but feel like Microsoft's success in this area is underwhelming... :( According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes_Store#Internationalization, you're right, Apple was actually pretty impressively aggressive. I think being first was a big reason -- the labels were desperate -- and they also went smaller wins (just a la carte tracks). As you imply, the Zune Pass is an ambitious thing to standardize licensing for across all markets, especially with increasingly-recalcitrant labels.

--janak

gdoerr56

09-22-2010, 09:15 AM

I'm more inclined to blame the labels than Microsoft for the country-by-country variation. I'm actually surprised that ANY labels allow subscriptions, it's hard to see how they make money in that process, especially given their historic myopia.

I also think Microsoft treads very carefully in the legal waters these days. After their US and EU legal woes, I think they've pulled back significantly on the agressive behavior that got them into trouble in the first place. Do't forget, they just settled the last issue with the European Commission in December of 2009 so it's all still fresh in their mind.

Jason Dunn

09-27-2010, 11:21 PM

I'm more inclined to blame the labels than Microsoft for the country-by-country variation. I'm actually surprised that ANY labels allow subscriptions, it's hard to see how they make money in that process, especially given their historic myopia.

Certainly, the labels are the gate-keepers, and Microsoft's job is to lure them into opening those gates for the profit it will give them. If Microsoft can't do that with years of effort, well, that's pretty damn depressing. :(

I also think Microsoft treads very carefully in the legal waters these days. After their US and EU legal woes, I think they've pulled back significantly on the agressive behavior that got them into trouble in the first place.

You may be right, but I can't figure out how they failed to get a music store launched in Canada...I mean, come on... :rolleyes: