Dell brings the cha-ching to buy Zing
PrintPrepare for the Dell Zune
Posted in PCs & Chips, 7th August 2007 10:16 GMT
Free whitepaper – Standardization and Modularity in Network-Critical Physical Infrastructure
Dell has agreed to cough up for music startup Zing, which makes software to connect personal music players to live streams and other online content.
Mountain View-based Zing was founded by iPod alumnus and Jobsian fashionista Tim Bucher and launched at the beginning of 2006.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Dell reckons the buy "reflects the renewed interest and energy being directed at its Consumer business". That'll be because it can't flog PCs anymore.
Zing provides the software for Sandisk's Sansa Connect wireless player. Assuming Dell isn't planning on becoming a software licensing operation, it's reasonable to suggest that Dell is developing its own Zunetastic Wi-Fi music player. Its statement merely equivocates that Zing will help it "continue improving the entertainment experiences it provides its customers".
Funnily enough, Dell already resells Sandisk players among others. Its previous attempts at an own-brand iPod-beater were woefully uninspired and quietly euthanised last year.
The terse acquisition statement is here.®
Systems management simplified
Total cost of ownership of Dell, HP and IBM blade solutions
Out-of-box comparison between Dell, HP, and IBM blade servers
Optimizing the data center for cost and efficiency
The easiest Siebel CRM installation on the market today
