« Is The iPod Getting A Digital Camera? | Main | Wireless High Definition (HD) Standard Proposed »
No Zune For UK Until 2008
In a shocking admission, Microsoft
has said the much-hyped iPod-killer, Zune, will not ship in Europe for
12-months or possibly early 2008. This is quite a blow since the US release
date for the player is just two weeks away. In an interview with New Media Age
magazine, Microsoft media and entertainment alliance manager, Dene Schonknecht
said:
“The earliest date it will be in the
UK is towards the end of 2007. However, it could easily be 2008.”
The delay seems to be down 
to
trouble finding suitable music store partner, while others allege that Micosoft
has failed to come up with a decent launch strategy.
Whatever the actual reasons, this is
a blow to UK users that are already feeling second-class by Sony’s decision to
delay launch of the PS3 here until next March. No European launch is also a massive blow
to Microsoft’s hopes of denting the iPod’s death-grip on the music player and
download market.
Apple must be laughing all the way
to the bank.
There's hope. Cesar of ZuneInsider disavowed those U.K. timelines earlier today, saying the Microsoft rep was quoted out of context.
He didn't say what the new timelines would be... but hopefully they're *much* earlier than the late 2007 date being mentioned.
- Harvey
http://www.zunerama.com
Posted by: Harvey | November 1, 2006 8:58 AM