Zune Phone

So now that Apple has officially announced its iPhone, its time for Microsoft to respond to Apple's ever growing presence in the mobile media market. Yesterday reports that "Microsoft is working on its very own phone to be branded under the Zune moniker." The Zune phone would most likely be a smart phone and work "homogeneously with the Zune Market Place[...]and be able to sync with the Xbox 360." The phone would not run the Windows Mobile operating system, but instead have an interface similar to that of a Zune.

This new development is not surprising, considering Microsoft's shameless mimicking of the iTunes, iPod interface with its Zune and Zune Marketplace. Microsoft is obviously committed to winning a share of Apple's coveted position in the mobile media market. However the Zune phone, unlike the Zune music player, might actually have some advantages over Apple.

The most glaring advantage for a Zune phone would be its capability to collaborate with the millions of Xbox 360's already sold in the United States. Microsoft already owns a portion of this nation's living room real estate with their video game console. Apple is trying to claim a spot with their Apple TV, but Microsoft has a huge head start.

Microsoft has already been in the mobile phone business for a while, and most of today's smart phones run a version of Windows mobile. While the Zune phone probably won't run a version of Windows Mobile, Microsoft, unlike Apple, has some experience in the mobile phone market, giving them a possible advantage.

Also, the Zune music player already has the ability to share songs with other Zunes, something that the iPod can't do, but the problem with this is that so few people own a Zune. Microsoft has a unique advantage in the mobile phone department with their already heavily present Windows mobile operating system. If they can make the Zune phone capable of sharing songs with Windows Mobile phones, like Cingular's Samsung BlackJack, they could immediately enlarge their network and make that feature something that is actually worthwhile and useful to people immediately out of the box.

Even with the leg up in the living room and the mobile phone market, its tough to foresee Microsoft creating something more desirable than the iPhone. Microsoft has always fumbled in the design department, which is something mobile phone users obviously care about. The success of phones like Motorola Razr were completely dependent upon their design. They will have to duplicate Apple's proven success in creating a striking design, and seamless connection between the phone, computer, and the media stored on the computer to even have a shot at the title.