Microsoft's Zune music player has been out a month, but the software and technology giant is already considering upping its ad budget to help spur sales of its supposed iPod killer.
Now
that the hardcore set has probably gotten their hands on the new device, Microsoft's next plan of attack is to lure the young hipster crowd. It's hoping the ability to share songs with the player's
built-in Wi-Fi connection is enough to spark a Zune movement.
Microsoft is pitching its product in TV spots, outdoor ads, print and online promos, mainly to get into the heads of
18-30 year olds.
It's still too early to tell whether this thing will flop, as the Zune debuted to mixed reviews, but being able to share a few songs and buy new ones over a Wi-Fi
connection isn't enough to get users to want to trade in a perfectly functioning iPod. Once that breaks or dies, maybe. By June, Microsoft says it expects to have sold 1 million units, which would
give it a 10% to 15% share of the Apple-dominated music player market.
Read the whole story at CNET News.com »