Xbox handhelds no major threat to iPod say users

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 17:50

Your IT - Home IT

The general consensus among users is that Microsoft's soon to be announced Xbox handheld "iPod killers" will not threaten the dominance of Apple's most successful product of the past two decades. However, a significant proportion do believe that the new Microsoft offering could give the iPod a run for its money.

An iTWire poll asked the question: "Do you think iPod is under threat from a Microsoft music player?" As this was published, the poll was running at 69.5% answering no and 30.5% answering yes. That ratio was fairly consistent throughout the polling and did not alter appreciably after news came to light about the project code named Argo, which involves Microsoft bring handheld Xbox branded devices to market.

Meanwhile, when Microsoft does bring its competing product to market, it is likely to have a tough time getting its business model, which will be similar to Apple's, past some European regulators such as those of France and Scandinavian countries. It will be very unlikely that Microsoft will want to open up its new Urge music store to rival MP3 portable music players.

The question is will both Apple and Microsoft simply decide to stay out of those markets? If so, the consumers will be the big losers.