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Free MP3 Players From Microsoft?

by Joshua Fruhlinger on April 4, 2007 at 04:51 PM


Engadget picked up on a story over at Zune-Online.com that suggests Microsoft is looking into a subscription-based music service that'll get you a free Zune MP3 player in exchange for media download subscription services (currently called ZunePass). The Zune, released late last year, has remained in the shadow of Apple's iPod despite heavy marketing and a respectable set of features.

This appears to be Microsoft's recognition that the real money is in getting people to buy and download media from online stores. With Apple becoming one of the world's leaders in music distribution, Microsoft wants a piece of the download action. Could this be the beginning of cell-phone-like plans for music players, in which consumers sign up for a multi-year contract and get the hardware for free? Seems so, since Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp said as much with the following quote: "We've been looking at the subscription model where you pay a certain amount and you essentially get the cell phone for free."

From Engadget

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