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Microsoft To Exit the Zune Business?

Posted by timothy on from the leaving-only-the-other-makers-of-zunes dept.

thefickler writes "According to Microsoft's quarterly filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Zune platform experienced a revenue drop of 54 percent, or $100 million. This compares to relatively healthy sales of the iPod, which were up 3 percent in the same period (though revenue did drop by 16 percent). Obviously, with the recent job cuts at Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, pundits are wondering how soon until the Zune also gets the chop. As one pundit wrote: 'Microsoft, by now, should be realizing that it's never going to be as "cool" as Apple, so why waste its time with the Zune where it has no competitive advantage?'"

4 of 361 comments (clear)

  1. Re:this comes as no surprise... by JohnFluxx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't know if it was a factor, but it is deliciously funny, that Microsoft's Zune did not play Microsoft's PlayForSure format. :-)

  2. Re:Wrong approach... by PietjeJantje · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No, don't use the "Zune" bit at all, it is tainted. Just do some minor cosmetic adjustments, call it Player 7, and re-release the same thing.

  3. Re:this comes as no surprise... by scotts13 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It may in reality be the largest factor. After the PlaysForSure fiasco, who in their right mind would ever buy ANYTHING with DRM from Microsoft, ever again?

  4. Re:this comes as no surprise... by Teese · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft uses the point system so you can pay for things over multiple platforms xbox, zune etc.

    You know, Cash works for that too.

    --
    "I'm a Genius!"*


    *Not an actual Genius