The Industry Standard - Microsoft announces Zune phone at '09 CES? - Comments

"As for its cellphone

Eric Hill113600 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:44:00 -0500

"As for its cellphone operating system, Windows Mobile, Microsoft is waiting until a wireless conference next month to discuss the next release. It will announce a new version of the Internet Explorer browser for cellphones." -- Bits

Jan. 07, 2009 Microsoft

Edward Beckham — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:27:23 -0500

Jan. 07, 2009
Microsoft Entertainment & Devices president Robbie Bach [was asked] to address the recurring speculation that Microsoft is working on its own Zune Phone -- a mobile phone from the company based on its Zune music player.

As you may recall, the company in November was reported to be poised to unveil a prototype of such a device as early as tonight's CES keynote [held Jan. 7, 2009], or possibly a bit later in the year.

Um, not so much, as it turns out. Here's what Bach said when...asked...if Microsoft plans to come out with its own Zune Phone.

"In general, I don't make a habit of commenting on rumors," he said. "I will, just because this one is so persistent. ... We don't have plans to do a Zune Phone. Windows Mobile is focused on a breadth strategy. ... We're not going to try to produce one phone. We're going to produce the software and services that power a broad assortment of phones."

Bach noted that he's made that statement definitively before, but people don't seem to want to hear the answer. The latest round of rumors came after his earlier statements to that effect.

"You can report it as something new if you want," he said, laughing. "But it isn't."

SOURCES:
For entire article, see:
http://www.techflash.com/Microsoft_exec_shoots_down_Zune_Phone_once_and_...

For previous comment by Bach, see:
http://gizmodo.com/5014393/robbie-bach-denies-blu+ray-xbox-and-zune-phon...

No mention of Zune phone

David Kuan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:59:47 -0500

No mention of Zune phone whatsoever in Ballmer's CES keynote speech. This is a foregone conclusion for an unfavorable judgment.

Despite all the inclination

David Kuan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:45:12 -0500

Despite all the inclination and hope, this is most likely not going to happen as indicated by the "No Zune phone at CES" response from Brian Seitz, Group Manager of Zune.

Microsoft announces Zune phone at '09 CES?

Yi-Wyn Yen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:34:11 -0500

Judgment on January 9, 2009: Microsoft executives shot down rumors of a Zune phone unveiling at CES or any time soon. The community correctly judged this prediction. -- The Industry Standard

Original prediction: Rumors of an imminent Zune phone release are back. The Industry Standard predicted Microsoft would make an announcement by the end of 2008. Obviously,that didn't happen. But the persistent rumors that the software giant will soon unveil a Microsoft-branded mobile phone have not gone away.

Analysts who cover Microsoft speculate that the company will announce new mobile strategies that feature the Zune mp3 player at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry went further and described a device that combines the Zune music player with Sidekick's mobile features. Microsoft acquired Danger, the Sidekick developer, last year.

Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer kicks off CES with a keynote speech on January 7.

Prediction: Microsoft will announce plans to release a smartphone that is based on the Zune device and uses the Zune branding by January 11, the last day of CES. Place your bets now.

Image: Microsoft