Well this one might come as a surprise to a lot of you; but apparently Zune Support team has categorically denied that Microsoft is discontinuing the hardware via a tweet. It also claimed that no official release was ever issued to confirm the discontinuation of the device.
We recently reported about the Zune players going defunct, which was confirmed by the changes made on the website and reports in the media. In fact a Microsoft had also confirmed that Zune apps would be ported to Windows Phone 7 and that only added to the word that Zune would be discontinued. Incidentally, Microsoft’s latest Windows Phone syncs using the Zune desktop software, so the brand Zune is sure to remain. We just wonder if Microsoft wants to continue making hardware for i? We believe Microsoft isn’t faulting if they choose to just concentrate on Windows Phone for now.
Apple still makes their iPods and claimed earlier this week that they sold 41 million iPods between July 2010- June 2011 and close to half of iPod buyers were purchasing it for the first time. Thus renewing their commitment to the iPod line-up. Has to be a co-incidence but news of Microsoft discontinuing the Zune came just before Apple’s announcement and denial just after it!
Certainly, Microsoft needs to get it’s communication right and leave the industry with a clear vision going ahead. With the Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8, Microsoft is making its biggest bet in more than a decade of market dominance, we wonder how things would stand a year later, for now, what do you think would the future of Zune be, let us know in comments 🙂
