Microsoft confirms plan to take on Apple's iPod
Confirming rumors that've circulated for a couple months now, Microsoft publicly disclosed plans to release a new music and entertainment player under the Zune brand. It should be in market before Christmas. I'd like to add some perspective to this announcement by sharing this chart of how Microsoft is organized:
So Zune is being produced by the same folks that brought you the XBOX and everything else that is non-PC (MSN TV, Microsoft mice, keyboards etc.) As you can see, the Home & Entertainment group is a sibling of Mobile & Embedded Devices (Windows Mobile, CE, Automotive PC), which is where I work. Robbie Bach is the President of both groups - the entire green zone, so he is one of the people I report into up the org chart. This is pretty exciting to me personally even though I've never owned an iPod. What do you guys think? Whether we catch up with the iPod or not, I'm positive the Zune isn't going to look like this.
