Zune phone in the works? Yes - another rumor
Let the Zune smartphone rumors begin anew - Chris Green of IT PRO has written a piece that claims that Microsoft is indeed working on a Zune-based Smartphone device. He writes that “sources close to the situation have confirmed that just a device is in the works..” Of course, one can easily imagine that Microsoft is indeed working on a Zune branded smartphone - especially since as Chris notes, all the pieces are there for Microsoft to undertake such an endeavor.
Consider the following:
1. Microsoft has the know-how on developing a mobile phone platform thanks to Windows Mobile
2. They have the expertise from the folks at Danger whom they acquired several months ago
3. They know how to create a music player thanks to the Zune team (which is really an incarnation of Windows Mobile)
4. They have an extensive online marketplace (though it’s not necessarily cohesive as of yet) thanks to the Zune Music Marketplace and the Xbox Live Video Marketplace.
5. They have a rich development platform.
So yes - Microsoft does indeed have all the pieces to create a Zune branded smartphone.
However, the same questions will arise if such a phone does get announced.
1. How will it compare against the iPhone?
2. Will this alienate manufacturers of Windows Mobile devices now that Microsoft is in the hardware biz with their own phone?
Question one would eventually be answered if such a phone were to come out.. but question two is far more interesting to contemplate.
It’s doubtful that hardware vendors would leave Microsoft’s Windows Mobile platform if Microsoft were to create a competing phone product. The truth is - most smartphone manufacturers that use Windows Mobile do so because their customers demand it. The fact that a Windows Mobile device fits nicely with businesses running Windows platforms is just too hard to ignore.
There are of course alternative operating systems - notably Symbian, and Android - and undoubtedly companies would consider looking into these alternatives if they needed to do so.
Another interesting thought would be as follows:
If Microsoft were to create a Zune branded phone - what if they bundled that user interface with all Windows Mobile-based phones? Yes - the Zune device would not necessarily be unique but it the new software/user interface would help proliferate the Windows Mobile platform far more quickly than otherwise. This would also morph the Zune from a media player device to an entire platform.
Of course, all this is moot until we know for sure that Microsoft is indeed working on a Zune based Smartphone. One thing we do know for sure is - Microsoft is working hard on the next iteration of Windows Mobile.