Microsoft confirms iPod (possible) killer

[david]

MICROSOFT HAS confirmed to Billboard what The INQ has been reporting over the last few weeks - the volePod is finally official.

Chris Stephenson, Microsoft's GM of marketing for MSN Entertainment Business, says the company will later this year launch Zune, an umbrella brand for "a family of hardware and software products". Interestingly the Zune service and device will not be PlaysForSure compliant, meaning that Creative, Philips, Napster, et al, will probably be feeling very miffed by Microsoft's new initiative. PlaysForSure will continue to be supported and developed, but there will be no cross-over with the existing devices and providers. As reported previously, the wireless features of the Zune device will feature predominately in Microsoft's marketing spiel. "The ability to connect the different devices is a key part of the strategy," Stephenson says. "Whether it's a portable media device, or a phone, or the Xbox or Media Center PC, the idea is you can access your entertainment from anywhere."

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[ColinM]

VolePod? Sounds funny. Maybe Microsoft should have made a shorter and more savvy word than that one to catch the market on better...

Choosing a product name that's almost in direct reference to its future competitor is like child revenge. WWDC 2006, anyone?