Zune rumors heat up, MS getting ready to launch Zune software on phones?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 14th 2009 6:31PM
posted Apr 14th 2009 6:31PM
Yeah, something is definitely up in Zuneland. Not only did images of the Zune HD leak out late last week, today AdWeek says that Microsoft's auditioning three major ad agencies for the launch of a new mobile service called "Pink" -- which is the project codename for Zune software on mobile phones. No, this doesn't mean any of those Tegra-powered Zunephone rumors are coming true -- it's far more likely that Microsoft is finally gearing up to re-launch Zune as the preferred media software and service for Windows Mobile, a plan Steve Ballmer's been hinting at for ages now. Remember, Microsoft has to keep its large stable of Windows Mobile hardware manufacturers happy, and launching a hyped new phone of its own with a Zune-based OS would basically be perceived as stabbing a billion-dollar business in the back -- not something you want to do when most of your partners are also deep in the Android game. On the other hand, you don't audition three huge ad agencies just to launch a Zune app on busted ol' WinMo, so there could be something big cooking -- if you forced us to throw caution to the wind and just guess, what we'd want to see is that $500m Danger acquisition pay off in the form of a reskinned consumer-oriented edition of Windows Mobile that integrates Zune services, running not only on a touchscreen Zune HD, but a variety of phones from third-party partners. Wishful thinking? You bet -- probably even crazy thinking -- but it would certainly shake things up, and that's never a bad thing. We'll see how it plays out -- care to share your dream Zune strategy in the meantime?[Via CNET]
I hope this isn't limited to WinMo, I would love to see this on the Instinct, Instinct S30, Pre and Dash
Why on earth would you want this for the Pre???
It's time to ditch windows mobile (and zune along with), I can't wait for the new Iphone 3.0 coming this summer.
Yeah, so it can finally catch up to every other phone in the market.
Why on earth would I want to do that to my poor phone? =(
I really hope so for WM phones. $15 a month for unlimited music? Sign me up. I have taken full advantage of the Zune software, and for it to be on WM phones would only help them out even more. While I would prefer to take the Pre and Sprint as my next phone, if Microsoft can get 6.5 on some awesome phones for Verizon (OmniaHD anyone?)... Sign me the hell up.
i love my zune. I want a zuneHD, and i want a Zune phone
well i use alot of MS products (Windows, Zune, 360, WinMo Phone) and i gotta say that they are missing alot of potential to unify the whole process. they do some stuff now with Windows to 360 and of course Windows to WinMo but they should really just combine Windows Media Player, the Zune App, and Active Sync/Device Center. hopefully this is true since it would certainly benefit from it right away.
Well they need something to wow us this year on WM, and it certainly aint going to be WM6.5, from what I've seen running the latest versions of it on my Touch HD. Most of the changes they've made are already being done better by HTC's latest TouchFlo3D v 3.
And Windows mobile Media Player is truly, truly awful. I mean really bad. It could do with a replacment, and one with podcast support like Zune software would be ideal. It would save me having to use third party rss readers to download my podcasts.
So forget about a zune phone, just give all of us Wm users a good multimedia experience with Zune Software. after all, *worldwide* WM devices still outsell the iPhone.
I love my Zune as well. I wouldn't trade it or the marketplace for anything.
A Zune iPhone app would be pretty sweet. It's a win win for both companies. I have both a Zune and iPhone, and have no intention of ever buying anything from iTunes.
I have an iPhone as well and I don't even have a single mp3 on it. The only music is my custom ringtones.
I am note sure if we will see zune in its current form or not, but any version integrated into windows mobile 6.5 and beyond will be simply incredible and I think a huge hit. If we could get a future version of zune packaged with windows mobile 7 and a well delivered windows mobile marketplace and there would be a lot of happy people.
the zune hd will be an excellent concept for the competition with the ipod touch and i know were talking about project pink but i think the real story is with the HD. grant it that it will nice to have the zune program on mobile but it will be on the pre. if it came out on maybe the blackberry storm or any other 3g phone it would be amazing.