Evidence mounts that Zune phone is coming, but not just from Microsoft
By John Pospisil
Evidence seems to be mounting that Microsoft is working on its answer to Apple’s iPhone, possibly by adding a broadband Internet access and VoIP to its Zune media player. A recent FCC filing also indicates that versions of this new device might also be available from a number of other hardware partners, such as Dell and Hewlett Packard.
More proof that a Zune phone is coming
Dows Jones’ MarketWatch reported that Microsoft placed a filing with the Federal Communications Commission for a wireless device designed to allow consumers access to broadband and networking.
According to MarketWatch, Apple made a similar filing, although it ultimately chose to make its iPhone a mobile phone that works cellular networks.
While Zune is not mentioned in the FCC filing, an analyst with the research firm the Enderle Group told MarketWatch that the device “certainly could be a Zune derivative product.” The analyst didn’t expect that Microsoft would want to partner with a cellular carrier because it would loose too much control over the product launch.
Presently, the Zune does have wireless functionality, but it only enables peer-to-peer sharing.
Microsoft is part of a coalition of companies that is lobbying regulators, particularly the FCC, to allow unused spectrum, originally intended for digital TV, to be used for Internet communication. Some of Microsoft’s coalition partners, namely Dell, Intel, Google, Hewlett Packard and Philips, are also listed in the FCC filing as being involved in the testing of this new device. This seems to indicate that the so called “Zune Phone” won’t be an exclusively Microsoft product, but that it (possibly under a different name) will be available from a number of hardware partners, such as Dell and Hewlett Packard, and that it will use technology from companies like Google, and obviously Intel.
Todd Bishop of seattepi.com reported last September that the general manager of Zune marketing, Chris Stephenson, had confirmed that a Zune phone was a possibility:
“”As I said earlier on, the entire Zune platform and brand is about a family of devices. So to the degree that phones and other products exist in the family going forward, absolutely, that’s definitely where this is all going,” Stephenson told a news conference.
Speculation is rife across the Internet about what Microsoft is working on.
Marcus Yam at Daily Tech believes the new device may use WiMAX. He noted that Sprint Nextel has annouced plans for a WiMAX network that would offer speeds of between 2 Mbps and 4 Mbps.
“The addition of WiMAX would help solve one Zune’s current shortcomings: the range of Wi-Fi doesn’t allow for a significant range to make sharing worthwhile. WiMAX could extend the sharing capabilities from close-range to international,” wrote Yam.
Earlier this month, Blake Robinson at CrunchGear reported a rumor that Microsoft was working on a Zune Phone, which would be able to sync with the Xbox 360.
Not all pundits agree that this FCC filing is actually related to the Zune phone. Ryan Block at engadget doesn’t think Microsoft would collaborate with other companies on the Zune phone, he notes that the product description “to provide consumer broadband and networking” on the filing doesn’t match that of a cell phone, and he also notes that the words “phone” or “Zune” don’t appear on the FCC document.
However the Zune phone plays out, one thing is certain, it will be fascination to watch as two big players in the IT industry, Apple and Microsoft, enter the mobile communications market.
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