PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.

Phone Links

more » more »
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • Microsoft kills the Zune, to focus on Windows Phone

Microsoft kills the Zune, to focus on Windows Phone

Posted: , by Victor H.

Categories:

Share:

Discuss 11
Microsoft kills the Zune, to focus on Windows Phone
Microsoft’s Zune player never quite caught up with the iPod line of music player, but now as even the iPod is on the decline, Redmond has decided to kill the Zune altogether. The company will not be releasing new models of the player, but remains committed to supporting the device in North America.

The Zune player is closely tied to the Zune music service, which in turn has intimate connections with Microsoft’s Windows Phone lineup, but while the player itself is dead, the service will continue running as before, with the focus shifting on Windows Phone handsets.

The Zune started in 2006 as an ambitious iPod rival. At the time, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer  saw it as a real competitor to Apple’s player: “We can beat them, but it’s not going to be easy.” And it wasn’t easy - it just never worked out. The iPod dominated the market accounting 77% of all music players last year, while Microsoft’s creation struggled to get in the top 5. 

In 2009, though, the company split Zune into a software and hardware division as it was becoming clear that other devices like phones and even PCs could benefit from the service itself.

We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players. So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices. Customer service has been, and will remain a top priority for us.

Before you start poking fun at the unfortunate (yet expected) fate of the Zune, it should be said that the Zune was the first device to debut with the Metro UI in 2006, later to evolve with the Zune HD in 2009, a UI which is now in the core of the Windows Phone experience. So, while the hardware is dead, the Zune is in a way still living in phones.


The evolution of the Metro UI in Zune player. Image courtesy of Windowsphonemetro.com

The evolution of the Metro UI in Zune player. Image courtesy of Windowsphonemetro.com


Share:

Discuss11

11 Comments

  • Options
    Close




Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. pthomas posted on 04 Oct 2011, 02:48 2

I gotta say I'm kinda sad to hear this, as a former Zune user the players were actually pretty slick and they had some great features that the iPods at the time didn't come close to. Oh well Microsoft tried and ultimately I think Android killed the Zune faster than Apple did though the music experience is hands down not even close to each other!

Reply

2. Eingild posted on 04 Oct 2011, 02:55

I thought this was old news? I read this article from other sources a long time ago.

Reply

3. Mooooo posted on 04 Oct 2011, 05:22

Dune?

The spice.....

Reply

4. ivanko34 posted on 04 Oct 2011, 05:53

Zune was much better than apple

Reply

5. VentusIlano posted on 04 Oct 2011, 06:25

LOL i didnt even know there was a zune "ipod".. though seeing the wp7 counterpart, zune still rocks!

Reply

6. thuglyfe (unregistered) posted on 04 Oct 2011, 08:15

Microsoft never stands behind their products. I have a Zune and they had the potential to beat iPod but they quit

Reply

7. InspectorGadget80 posted on 04 Oct 2011, 09:21

Looks like I'll be buying the Galaxy WiFi Player. ZUNE was the best MP3 player I've had in years. So theirs no point in using it if MS won't support it and besides I'm already having battery problems.

Reply

9. clevername posted on 04 Oct 2011, 10:32

The article says Microsoft will continue to support it. They will honor warranties as well. So you're still good with you're Zune for a while.

Reply

8. The_Miz posted on 04 Oct 2011, 10:18

Good, let another crappy iPod wannabe die out.

Reply

10. Penny posted on 04 Oct 2011, 11:51

Yayyy, less choices in the world. This is great news for you Miz! It really benefits you somehow!

Reply

11. Roughneck69 (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 15:39

You should update this, they are not killing the Zune.

Reply

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Hot Phones

  • Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Apple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 5
  • Samsung GALAXY Note IISamsung GALAXY Note II
  • HTC OneHTC One
  • Sony Xperia ZSony Xperia Z
  • Google Nexus 4Google Nexus 4
  • LG Optimus GLG Optimus G
  • Nokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 920