Microsoft has been thinking about creating its own media player since 2003 when it was dismayed by Windows media players built by Creative and Dell, according to evidence tendered in a civil antitrust case against Microsoft in Iowa.

Zune: born of desperation

The antitrust case involves a claim of $329 million by consumers in Iowa against Microsoft for abusing its monopoly position to overcharge for its software, including Windows, Word and Excel.

In an e-mail exchange titled “sucking on media players”   between software executive Amir Majidimehr and Windows head Jim Allchin, Allchin described a Creative media player as “terrible” and wrote: “What I don’t understand though is I was told the new Creative Labs device would be comparable to Apple. That is so not the case.”

Apparently Microsoft tried to get its hardware partners to improve the devices by paying them cash incentives. Majidimhehr’s suggestion was that if that approach didn’t work, it would be time for Microsoft create to its own hardware.

Microsoft launched the Zune media player in the US in November last year. 

Allchin also suggested in the email exchange that they talk to Apple CEO Steve Jobs about getting the iPod to work Microsoft’s media software.

Allchin, who headed the development team for Vista, is famous for his 2004 email to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer where he wrote “I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft.” That email was made public earlier during this case.  Allchin is due to retire after the consumer launch of Vista later this month.

It’s intriguing to read emails that were very clearly never intended for public consumption. It shows a lot about what was, and is, going on behind the scenes at Microsoft.

You can’t help but speculate that Apple’s ability to consistently churn out “cool” products must be a source of constant frustration for Microsoft.

And how would you feel if you were Dell or Creative?

Having said all that, Allchin’s outspokenness, and  willingness to engage with his superiors on issues he thinks are important, shows not only his strong character, but also a willingness for the culture at Microsoft to take criticism on the chin. Not a bad thing, I say, if Microsoft is to overcome the challenges of its size and bureaucracy.

Related:

Entry was posted on Sunday, January 21st, 2007 at 2:53 pm under Apple, Microsoft, Technology.

Read more entries by John Pospisil.
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