Ditch the Zune, Microsoft. Bring me Xbox Mobile

Matt Rosoff, a CNET Blog Network blogger who writes "Digital Noise," said in a recent blog post that he spoke to Microsoft's marketing director, Adam Sohn, earlier this week, and Sohn told him that although Zune sales were poor, Microsoft still plans to release a new set of players before the 2009 holiday season. According to Rosoff, Sohn said "they'll be a surprising step up from the current models."

Great. But I don't know why Microsoft plans to waste its time with the Zune. According to its latest quarterly filing, Zune platform revenue decreased $100 million, or 54 percent, during the last quarter. Considering iPod unit sales were up 3 percent during the same quarter and Apple enjoyed $3.3 billion in revenue, I'm not convinced Microsoft's plan to offer new Zune models is a good idea.

Instead of wasting our time and its money on the Zune, I'd like to see Microsoft ditch its attempt to make progress in the personal music player market and tackle the handheld gaming space. Why not? It could transfer all its funding and development costs to that division and in the process, jump in on one highly lucrative market.

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Personally I would buy a Zune (if it was released in Europe)

A Zune Phone (contract or PAYG)

An Xbox Handheld

Or An Xbox Zune Mobile Handheld ...

Fuck I'd buy anything from Microsoft with Zune or Xbox in the name ...

I think it would be a stupid move in their part to make a handheld right now.

I like the way this guy thinks.

Xbox180 FTW!

interesting
I to prefer the zune over an iPod
But will see cuz only time will tell

I want to buy the 120gig Zune b4 the summer but I guess I'll wait for this new model instead... The ipod is way overrated because when people talk of buying MP3s want comes to mind is the name Ipod and they think thats all there is..

Maybe that's what the "surprising step up" is...though I think it will be more of a competitor to the iPhone as your title insinuates.

I think MS can be accused of being a bit half-arsed with their efforts on the zune media players. It's only released in retailers in the US for starters and they really needed to get the zune marketplace on LIVE last year, which is now slated to happen sometime this year. Once that happens there's reason to believe they can make a buck out of this ill-fated division with the huge exposure and customers it brings.

Sweet, I wanna see what this new model looks like.

You're totally right.

I think Microsoft has come across as if they don't have any real enthusiasm for the Zune. Which is a shame because why enter that market if you're not going to go all out.

They need a WW release of this new model. Needs to be something innovative integrated into it (something though I don't know what) MASS advertising.

and like you said get it on Live for goodness sakes!

i think the handheld gaming market is a little crowded at the moment...unless they were to add something to zune that is compatible with xblm