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| Product type | Digital media |
|---|---|
| Owner | Microsoft |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 2006 |
| Discontinued | 2012 |
| Related brands | Xbox (successor) |
| Markets | Worldwide |
Zune was a brand of digital media products and services that was marketed by Microsoft from November 2006 until it was discontinued in June 2012. Zune consisted of a line of portable media players, a music subscription service known as Zune Music Pass plus Zune Marketplace for music, TV and movies, streaming services for the Xbox 360 game console, and the Zune software media player for Windows PCs which also acted as desktop sync software for Windows Phone.
The Zune started and revolved around its line of portable media players (PMP) created in cooperation with Toshiba. Microsoft aimed to challenge and beat Apple, whose iPod line held an enormous market share.[1] Three hard disk players ranging from 30 GB to 120 GB were released, alongside six flash players. However, its overall market share in the U.S. remained low, well below Apple and also lagging the SanDisk Sansa and Creative Zen.[2] Microsoft discontinued all Zune hardware in October 2011.[3] Zune digital content distribution continued until 2012, when it was replaced by the Xbox Music and Xbox Video brands.[4]
- ^ "Microsoft confirms 'iPod Killer' plans". 21 July 2006.
- ^ "Portable Media Player Gallery - 2000s".
- ^ "Microsoft changes its story, concedes death of Zune hardware". 4 October 2011.
- ^ "Microsoft pulls plug on Zune music service". News. BBC. November 16, 2015.