Multimedia September 17, 2006 
Microsoft Corp unveiled on Thursday its new ‘Zune’ portable media player, hoping its ability to share music wirelessly can win over consumers despite its late entry five years after Apple’s market-dominating iPod.
The world’s largest software maker said the music player is the first step in creating a whole brand of portable devices, and a Zune mobile phone is also in the company’s plans.
Microsoft Corp unveiled on Thursday its new ‘Zune’ portable media player, hoping its ability to share music wirelessly can win over consumers despite its late entry five years after Apple’s market-dominating iPod.
The world’s largest software maker said the music player is the first step in creating a whole brand of portable devices, and a Zune mobile phone is also in the company’s plans.
Microsoft said it will launch a 30-gigabyte Zune and an iTunes competitor called the Zune Marketplace in the United States this holiday shopping season.
The new rectangular player, which was handed to reporters at a news conference, is similar in appearance to the iPod, with a round click wheel but a larger 3-inch (7.6 cm) screen. The Zune comes in black, white and brown.
