Sony

Microsoft: No Zune phone in the cards

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:56:59 -0400

Despite soliciting feedback on how its Zune portable media device might more effectively interoperate with devices based on the Windows Mobile OS, Microsoft maintains there are no plans to release a so-called "Zune phone" anytime in the imminent future. In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Microsoft's entertainment and devices division president Robbie Bach says the software giant is not working on a converged Zune/Windows Mobile device: "We continue driving the path we are driving with Windows Mobile and we are very excited about the approach we have taken this year. About 20 million devices will ship with Windows Mobile on it. We will outsell the iPhone. We will outsell the BlackBerry. We don't make phones ourselves. We don't have any plans to make phones ourselves. Our focus is on the belief that a phone is a very personal thing. Different people want different types of phones. We think that is going to continue, and we think Windows Mobile is in a great position to service all those different opportunities."

For more on Microsoft's mobile outlook:
- read this San Francisco Chronicle article

Related articles:
Sony Ericsson debuts Windows Mobile device
Microsoft files patent for new mobile user interface

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Editor's Corner: Mobile TV

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Ericsson announced this week that interactive TV is the future of mobile media. I've said before that I'm not a big believer in mobile TV. All the mobile TV solutions I've seen are buggy and difficult to use. Moreover, I'm not sure that users really want to watch traditional TV programs or movies on such a small screen (and they certainly don't want bigger devices). Interactive TV has a lot of potential, but only if it's truly interactive, not just voting for my favorite pop singer. Sadly, I don't think Ericsson's vision is more "TV" than "interactive."

Sony, meanwhile, has signed a deal with AtomFilms to support the PSP. This is a great deal because AtomFilms' short features are much more practical for a mobile user due to time and memory limitations. I'm also much more likely to watch something on a mobile phone that I can't readily see on a regular TV. Now, if only I could easily share these videos with my friends, create new ones, and build a community, I think Sony would really have something. - Eli