Rumours broke out last month that Microsoft was prepping a Zune service for Windows Mobile, but now the PC behemoth has gone on the record to say it’s planning to get Zune onto mobile too.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Microsoft’s general manager for TV, video and music marketing, Christine Heckhart, said that Redmond wanted to put Zune on “three screens”, tying in with the company’s wider goal of integrating PC, television and mobile phone under one platform. “The strategy and vision of Zune is to continue to build out that full entertainment experience,” she continued.
Zune for Windows Mobile primed
Zune is already available on the PC in the US, and will be on the Xbox 360 from tomorrow, but there are currently no Zune services available for phones, suggesting Microsoft has some much loftier goals on the roadmap.
We’ve said before that the reskinning of some menu screens in Windows Mobile 6.5 suggests Microsoft’s mobile OS could get the Zune treatment first, but it might not just be restricted to it: the onslaught of cross platform music streaming services such as Spotify mean Microsoft could be planning an effort for other smartphone platforms too in order to compete.
We’ll be sure to shout up as soon as Microsoft is more forthcoming with the details, but this is a clear signal we should be seeing something soon. Let’s just hope it’s before Windows Mobile 7 arrives.
Out TBC | £TBC | Zune (Via The Financial Times)
