Microsoft is happy with the sales of the Zune in the US, and may launch Zune in Europe by the end of the year, according Microsoft marketing manager Jason Reindorp in an interview with Reuters. 

Zune could make it to Europe by the end of 2007

Reindorp acknowledged that Microsoft faced an entrenched competitor in the form of Apple’s iPod, but also said that “we feel really good about the first steps that we’ve taken [with the Zune].”

While Microsoft has not yet made an official announcement about launching the Zune in Europe, Reindrop conceded that Zune would probably be launhced in time for the Christmas holiday season. Market research would be conducted with European consumers to see how the Zune might have to be modified for Europe.

According to market research company, Current Analysis, Zune captured a decent slice of the hard-drive-based audio player market at large retail stores over Christmas, but did not make the top 10 list of models in overall sales.

Current Analysis’ study found that Apple accounted for 64 per cent of digital audio devices sold during the period, Sandisk for 22 per cent and Microsoft for 3 per cent.

My colleague Gareth Powell even believes that Microsoft will be redesigning the Zune and releasing add ons in coming months.

It’s bizarre that Microsoft’s marketing manager is even thinking about launching the Zune in Europe when it has such a long way to go in the US to catch up with the iPod.

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Entry was posted on Saturday, January 20th, 2007 at 12:15 pm under Microsoft.

Read more entries by John Pospisil.
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