REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 28, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. is putting the
social into digital music, starting this holiday. Today the company announced
that the Zune™ digital media player and online service will be available to
consumers in the U.S.
on Nov. 14, 2006, just in time for the holidays. The Zune device will retail
for $249.99 U.S. (ERP) and will create new ways for entertainment fans to
connect and share media experiences device-to-device through the use of
wireless technology and new software scenarios.
For $249.99, consumers will get an incredible entertainment experience right
out of the box:
- 30GB
digital media player will come equipped with wireless functionality for
Zune-to-Zune sharing of music, pictures and home recordings; a bright,
three-inch LCD video screen that works in portrait or landscape mode to
view pictures and videos; and a built-in FM tuner. The device will be
available in three colors: black, brown and white.
- A
selection of preloaded content including songs, music videos and film
shorts are installed on the device’s hard drive to help consumers discover
new artists and entertainment.
Zune makes it easy to find music you love — whether it’s
songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace:
- Its
dynamic music service will be continually updated with new content and
experiences so there is always something to discover. The Zune Marketplace
lets users browse and purchase songs individually.
- A Zune Pass subscription gives consumers
access to millions of songs for $14.99 per month.
- Users
can purchase songs individually using Microsoft® Points for 79 points per
track. Similar to a pre-paid phone card, Microsoft Points is a stored
value system that can be redeemed at a growing number of online stores,
including the Xbox Live® Marketplace.
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