So, presumably you were all partying yesterday to mark the arrival (in the US at least) of Microsoft's much anticipated Zune player? Yep, the IT conglom has formally re-entered the digital music space with a business model that mirrors that of main rivals Apple, after years of dabbling with different approaches. The music industry, increasingly concerned about the dominance of Apple in the digital music business, will be hoping Microsoft can successfully introduce some competition into the market, but it remains to be seen if the public embrace their player and download platform in the way they have the iPod and iTunes.
Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer was upbeat if realistic as the player officially launched. Speaking to reporters in Washington, he said "We can beat them [Apple], but it's not going to be easy. The market will have two big players for a long time, us and Apple. Obviously we're the David in this one. Apple's the Goliath".
Chris Stephenson, the man hired by Microsoft to lead the marketing of Zune, seemed to have a similarly realistic viewpoint: "The most important thing for us is to be relevant. We would like people to say there's a clear No. 2 in the marketplace".
Zune players will retail at more or less the same price as Apple's equivalent devices, with Microsoft's main distinguishing feature the inclusion of WiFi technology that enables the albeit limited sharing of music between players. Whether that will be enough to beat the iPod's continuing public appeal remains to be seen - industry insiders have mixed views of Microsoft's chances, though all seem to agree with Ballmer that it's going to be an uphill struggle.