Zune, marketplace pricing and launch date revealed

Stan Beer
Friday, 29 September 2006 06:00

Your IT - Home IT

Microsoft has released the final details of its iPod and iTunes rivals, the Zune player and online music store, the Zune Marketplace.

• Announcements

According to the announcement, the Zune player, which comes with a 30GB hard disk, 3 inch screen, FM tuner and wireless connectivity, will retail for US$250 and will hit US stores on November 14.

Zune users will also have access to a range of optional extras, including a car pack that costs US$79, a travel pack for US$99 and a home pack for US$99 that includes the necessary items to hook the Zune player into the home TV and stereo systems.

As expected, the Zune Marketplace will offer both a subscription service and the ability to purchase music and videos.

The subscription service, at US$15 a month, will enable users to access the whole store for as long as they keep the subscription payments up but they will not be able to keep any music or videos permanently.

Purchasing music and videos will work on a points system called Microsoft Points, which enables users to buy packages of points of 1200 for US$15, 2000 for US$25, and 4000 for US$50. Predictably, a song costs 79 points, equivalent to US$0.99, the same as iTunes. The points can also be used to purchase other Microsoft products

Zune players will also come preloaded with a range of music, music videos and short film clips.

So far pricing and availability for Europe, Australia and other non-US markets has not been announced.