Microsoft Job Posting Hints at New Zune Platforms

[Adam Krebs]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.techflash.com/microsoft/36394369.html' target='_blank'>http://www.techflash.com/microsoft/36394369.html</a><br /><br /></div><p>"<em>Microsoft has recently posted some interesting job listings that lend themselves to (unconfirmed but solid) speculation. Their acquisition of European mobile music provider Musiwave last year just deepens the mystery... Now, a web services development job listing proclaims "Zune Services is building an entertainment store for a wide range of Zune clients or 'tuners.' Today these tuners include the Windows PC client, the Zune web site and the Zune device; in the future there will be more. Each of these tuners access a set of rich web services implemented by Zune and soon by Musiwave as well." The combination of Musiwave and Zune suggests some sort of mobile Marketplace, whether it's through phones or simply over-the-air to Zunes. Microsoft did note at the time of their absorption of Musiwave that the European company would help them arrange a better ecosystem of products and devices. Could this mean Zune on Windows Mobile? Another listing asks for a user experience designer to focus on a few aspects of the Zune: device UI, Zune PC client, and then a surprise, Zune Xbox. There's no other information, but we think it'd be a pretty good idea to incorporate the Zune Marketplace into the successful Xbox environment. Imagine, Microsoft integration as far as the eye can see. This is, of course, rumor and conjecture, but those job listings are certainly eyebrow-raising indicators of what's to come from the big MS.</em>"</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1229810747.usr495.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Is this the connected experience we've heard trumpeted since November 2006? I'd love to seamlessly access my music library from my computer, my Zune, Xbox and phone all through the Zune service, and I have a feeling that Microsoft is fully capable of doing this. Whether or not they will is entirely up-in-the-air, but it's good to see they're moving towards a better connected ecosystem.</p>

[Alber1690]

Interesting...I hope they have a worthwile announcement at CES...the promised "Zune events" last year weren't much of events...but I guess we did get great upgrades. But still...Zune needs a greater presence at CES.

[USArcher]

I have no doubt Zune is coming to Mobile phones but I do not think we will hear much about it for another 6 months or so. There could be some sort of Zune/XBox announcement at CES. I base this on the premise that integrating Zune with XBox (similiar to NetFlix) wouldn't be nearly as difficult considering Microsoft owns the hardware, doesn't need to coordinate with hardware partners nor contend with a number of licensing issues. Also, I believe that Zune will be delivered/accessible to Mobile phones via a Live Mesh Application. And Live Mesh will likely be in Beta for several more months. I'll admit, all of this is just guess work.