Microsoft waves Zune Pass at UK
Multi-screen music shop
Yet another internet music subscription and sales service has tipped up in the UK, this time from Microsoft.
It's called Zune - and on offer is a Spotify-like MP3 and music video download service called Zune Marketplace and a subscription service for £8.99 delivering "unlimited downloads" and streaming access to a big music catalogue. There is no mention of of the 10 songs a month that Zune US customers can get to keep, so customers will find out soon what "unlimited" really means. Also there's a film streaming rental service.
Remember, Microsoft also has an MP3 player with the same name - which never officially made it to the UK and probably never will. Here, the company should do better with the software side of things, as it can claim massive distribution welly, through tie-ins with Windows-based PCs, Windows Phone 7 and XBox Live. OK maybe not Windows Phone 7... if Microsoft really wanted to make Zune fly on mobiles, it would be better off integrating the service with Android. But perhaps we are missing the point.
You can synchronise the account across screens using the same Windows Live ID.
Zune's UK website has yet to catch up with the brand new one-stop multiscreen digital entertainment world - at time of writing the info is about accessing the service through XBox Live.
You don't have to have Windows or an XBox to run Zune - you could always download the Zune player and stream music via the internet. But s it's Microsoft your browser must support Silverlight.
COMMENTS
RE: Unlimited Downloads != 10
The US service gives you unlimited streaming & downloads while you subscribe to the service, but allows you to have 10 tracks per month that will continue working if you end your subscription. This is what is lacking from the UK offering.
"What exactly do I get that I can't get for free from Spotify and/or Last.fm? The latter of which definitely has an XBox client, and the former may well do."
With regards to Spotify, unlimited ad-free streaming to PC, mobile (well, WP7 or Zune hardware) and Xbox. Spotify only offers free streaming to PC, which is only unlimited if you previously subscribed or have an old Free account. And it's cheaper than Spotify, though you get better mobile device choice from Spotify currently.
Last.fm isn't really the same service - you can't really choose a playlist of specific tracks.
"More cash gouging from Microsoft. I'm sure Xbox fanboys will lap it up at an addition £8.99 a month ontop their existing Xbox Live charges."
Cash gouging? The cost of Zune Pass is pretty standard when compared to other similar services. This isn't just for Xbox Live subscribers.
Way to go M$, Name a new product with the same name as a failed one!
Zune. A failed device. Why not call this new service:
Inland Revenue (in fact, any Govt controlled) computer system
Sinclair C5 or QL
HD drives
Vista ...
There are a billion names they could have chosen, to name it Zune smacks of blind stupidity. Then again, I thought "Wii" and "iPad" were laughable ...
Unlimited Downloads != 10
"...for £8.99 delivering "unlimited downloads" .... There is no mention of of the 10 songs a month that Zune US customers can get to keep..."
Wow, where do I sign?
10 to keep
US ZunePass users get unlimited access to all the songs available to the service as long as their subscription is current, but they also get to download 10 tracks a month that they keep even if they end their subscription. For people who listen to a wide range of music, it works pretty well.
Business case? We don't need no steenking business case...
So, for just under a tenner a month, I get unlimited streaming (not the same as unlimited downloads). And then, only to my XBox or Windows PC (alright, not my XBox and PC, but someone who owns them).
What exactly do I get that I can't get for free from Spotify and/or Last.fm? The latter of which definitely has an XBox client, and the former may well do.
I can see exactly nobody taking up this stunning offer.
