Microsoft Kills Zune Hardware; Service Lives on in WP

Microsoft has announced that it will no longer be producing Zune MP3 players, preferring instead to focus on Windows Phone.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will no longer be producing the Zune, wrapping up five years of production on the company's Zune music player. The company confirmed late yesterday that it would no longer be producing Zune hardware, with Windows Phone now the focus of Redmond's mobile music strategy.

While the Zune was never insanely popular, the device was not a complete flop either. So, what's going to happen to those that already have a Zune? According to Microsoft, not much.

"So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today," the company said via a statement on Zune.net, adding that it will honor all warranties and continue customer service.

"And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices. Customer service has been, and will remain a top priority for us."

The Zune first launched in November 2006 in the form of the Zune 30 (30GB). Twelve months later, the Zune 80 (80GB) was launched, along with the more compact Zune 4 (4GB) and Zune 8 (8GB). September 2008 brought the Zune 16 and Zune 120 (16GB and 120GB, respectively). Finally, in September 2009, Microsoft announced the stunning Zune HD (pictured right) in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. None of the Zune players were ever launched outside of the North American market.

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There are 35 Comments.

Top Comments

17

Kami3k , October 4, 2011 11:30 PM

amk-aka-phantomWho needs an mp3 player nowadays, anyway? And I won't buy an mp3 player tied to any service. I will download and copy my music myself.

Must be nice to be clueless about, well, everything.
16

Kami3k , October 4, 2011 11:29 PM

Microsoft needs to fire their entire marketing department.

Zune was superior to the iPod, as are many of Microsoft's products. It's just their marketing SUCKS!
10

mattmock , October 5, 2011 1:59 AM

reggierayLet me also say I will not buy a iPod either. I see tools at the gym wearing these thing, hiding in their own little world. These things are anti-social devices, get a life and talk to your fellow man. You would be amazed what you may learn.

I know that when I go to the gym I am really hoping that someone will come up and start an involved conversation while I try to work out.

Other Comments

7

southernshark , October 4, 2011 11:19 PM

It makes sense. If they don't compete with Sony, for example, then just maybe Sony will make a Sony Windows 8 Tablet. In fact, that deal might already have been made. Microsoft got itself in a pinch in the past trying to compete with too many products, rather than focusing on supplying software to other people's products, which was the core of its business. So I think this could be a good decision.
-11

amk-aka-Phantom , October 4, 2011 11:28 PM

Who needs an mp3 player nowadays, anyway? And I won't buy an mp3 player tied to any service. I will download and copy my music myself.
16

Kami3k , October 4, 2011 11:29 PM

Microsoft needs to fire their entire marketing department.

Zune was superior to the iPod, as are many of Microsoft's products. It's just their marketing SUCKS!
17

Kami3k , October 4, 2011 11:30 PM

amk-aka-phantomWho needs an mp3 player nowadays, anyway? And I won't buy an mp3 player tied to any service. I will download and copy my music myself.

Must be nice to be clueless about, well, everything.
8

captaincharisma , October 4, 2011 11:32 PM

+1000 on that Kami3k
6

milktea , October 4, 2011 11:35 PM

I only wish MS would put in some thoughts to improve the sound quality of their next gen media player, like 24/96 >120db SNR. This might be niche at first, but will certainly gain them loyalty from the high-end market, which is something Apple and others haven't touch yet.
-1

isisyodin , October 4, 2011 11:49 PM

R.I.P. Zune... another MS failure. I wonder where is the individual that convinced the board to push such a device in a matured and saturated market; its faith was known before it was even placed on the store shelves.
9

anonymous@guest , October 4, 2011 11:57 PM

no idea why Kami3k is getting thumbs down other than from the zealots, Zune HD was in fact a superior product (which probably came to market way too late to win any real market share), it's build quality was exception and extremely sturdy (and i have to say i prefer it's aesthetics to the iPod, felt alot more masculine with it's sharp edged lol), performance was nippy, beats any other MP3 players hands down on sound quality and wifi sync and share was the bomb

it's only weak point was a very poorly supported app market, but as an MP3 player there was very little else to recommend
2

Aoster87 , October 4, 2011 11:58 PM

Hopefully WP7.5 will have support to play licensed songs from the Zune marketplace. Currently you cannot use your WP7 to play DRM-laden files from their service, but you can of course play "owned" files.
0

kewlx , October 5, 2011 12:13 AM

cowon s9 and j3 and d3 are way better
-4

halcyon , October 5, 2011 12:24 AM

I thought MS had stopped making/selling the Zune a couple years ago. ???
-11

reggieray , October 5, 2011 12:34 AM

Wait, let me get my violin out for another failed Microbloat copy cat adventure.
3

zaho0006 , October 5, 2011 12:36 AM

Aoster87Hopefully WP7.5 will have support to play licensed songs from the Zune marketplace. Currently you cannot use your WP7 to play DRM-laden files from their service, but you can of course play "owned" files.

I have been using my Samsung Focus to play zune DRM files for a year or so now, never had any issues. I also thought they confirmed discontinuing the zune a while back, although I with this announcement it would have been cool to see a phone launching with higher quality sound components.
-3

reggieray , October 5, 2011 12:37 AM

Let me also say I will not buy a iPod either. I see tools at the gym wearing these thing, hiding in their own little world. These things are anti-social devices, get a life and talk to your fellow man. You would be amazed what you may learn.
0

dimar , October 5, 2011 12:53 AM

The only phone worth using for music is Samsung Galaxy, rooted, with Voodoo plugin. In general, phones have terrible audio output. Nothing beats Sandisk Sansa with Rockbox firmware. Phone manufacturers must concentrate on audio output quality if they want my $$$. Reviewers should thoroughly analyse it too.
-4

sa1nt , October 5, 2011 1:50 AM

It's fun to remember how Microsoft bragged about how Zune will take over all iMarket
10

mattmock , October 5, 2011 1:59 AM

reggierayLet me also say I will not buy a iPod either. I see tools at the gym wearing these thing, hiding in their own little world. These things are anti-social devices, get a life and talk to your fellow man. You would be amazed what you may learn.

I know that when I go to the gym I am really hoping that someone will come up and start an involved conversation while I try to work out.
8

halcyon , October 5, 2011 1:59 AM

sa1ntIt's fun to remember how Microsoft bragged about how Zune will take over all iMarket

You should be more sympathetic, some folks, somewhere, will actually miss the Zune.
-4

belardo , October 5, 2011 2:12 AM

I thought the Zune Hardware was already dead.

What if his kids want an MP3 player... their only choice is iPod or SONY for the upper end.
3

belardo , October 5, 2011 2:14 AM

reggierayLet me also say I will not buy a iPod either. I see tools at the gym wearing these thing, hiding in their own little world. These things are anti-social devices, get a life and talk to your fellow man. You would be amazed what you may learn.

You seem rather silly. The gym is generally a boring place... I do my work outs. How is having a music player a "tool".... that is stupid. So, those with cassette players are the cool ones?

I use a Sandisk Clip MP3 player.

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Microsoft Kills Zune Hardware; Service Lives on in WP

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