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News
Microsoft Teams Up for "iPod Killer"
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 at 3:00 PM - by Jeff Gamet
Microsoft is teaming up with several companies in an effort to create a video and music distribution system along with media players designed to go head-to-head with the iPod and iTunes Music Store. Toshiba, Victor Co. of Japan, NTT DoCoMo Inc., and five other companies will be working with Microsoft to produce a portable music and video player that will initially be available in Japan, according to Bloomberg.
The software for the new portable media devices will be developed by Microsoft, and the hardware will be built by Toshiba and Victor. DoCoMo also committed to producing a cell phone that is compatible with the software and will transfer Windows formatted music files from a PC to the hand set.
Apple's iPod holds the lion's share of the portable music player market, and the iTunes Music Store is the most popular legal media download service.
Microsoft's biggest obstacle to tackling Apple's market dominance is that, unlike Apple, it won't control its product completely from development to customer delivery. Excluding the successful Xbox gaming console, Microsoft relies on other companies to produce products based on its software and concepts, which usually results in product compromises - compromises that Apple doesn't have to make.
There is no official word yet on when to expect Microsoft's service or players to hit the market.
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