OK, So the Zune Isn’t Quite ‘Dead’ Says Microsoft

Written by Rob Nichols on March 16, 2011 · Filed under Tech 

Earlier this week we brought you news in a somewhat distastefully excited fashion that Microsoft’s Zune hardware was dead. However, Microsoft has responded to the speculation today, with promises that quite the opposite is true. Almost.

Microsoft has admitted that the Zune hardware may have come to the end of its lifespan in the form of the Zune HD, claiming that all consumer electronics at some point do. Can’t find fault with that, and the press release continues on to promise Zune fans that more apps and games are indeed coming to the platform. But that’s all the software side of things, right? And there was never any mention of that going in the can.

The question is, what of the hardware? Will Microsoft fans be able to get a phone-free Zune experience away from Windows Phone 7? Or is that it? WP7 or nothing.

As Engadget reported this afternoon, Dave McLauchlan, Senior Business Development Manager for Zune, made a long statement in the anythingbutipod forums and the following is just a little taster:

“ALL consumer electronics products have a lifespan, and the Zune HD is 18mo old. We were completely frank about this year’s Zune hardware being the WP7 phones, and we continue to both sell and fully support the Zune HD line of products. And as I’ve promised – we continue to bring new apps and games to the platform. More of those are in the works, I promise you.”

What do you think to the Zune platform? Are you pleased that it will be staying around in some form? Or should Microsoft simply give up on this market and focus more on what they are truly good at?

Source: Engadget