Microsoft Chooses Zune's Ad Agency to Promote Zune Phone "Pink"

Advertising firm McCann Erickson has won a lucrative advertising contract with Microsoft, beating out CrispiBLAH BLAH BLAH the point is, people—Zune advertising people—are now talking on record about Microsoft's "Pink" project, and gearing up to promote it. More »

Microsoft xYz Combines Zune and Xbox?

Team Xbox claims to have sources inside Microsoft who are working on a new device that "sits somewhere in-between the Xbox and Zune platforms." More »

ZOMG Phone Rumor Update: Zune Team Denies, Denies and Denies

Just talked to Brian Seitz, Group Marketing Manager of Zune, who says he just dropped a line to the Office team, and that they have no control or involvement with the twitter account that published the rumors. So, the entire thing is kind of bullshit. Just like we figured. Not quite a denial, but a good ruse for attention, for sure. [Did Microsoft Just Announce a Zune Phone on Twitter?]

Microsoft and Verizon in Talks To Develop iPhone Rival

We know Verizon is talking to Apple about taking on the iPhone, and now the WSJ claims they are playing both sides by talking with Microsoft about developing an iPhone rival. More »

The "Zune Phone" Won't Be Made by Microsoft?

According to one of Mary-Jo Foley's sources, Microsoft is not building a Zune phone. Instead, they're crafting sample chassis to inspire manufacturers as to what will excite the market. More »

Microsoft Denies Reports That Zune Hardware Isn't Long For This World

Steve Ballmer's recent statements about the Zune seemed to imply that it didn't have much of a future as a hardware product. Microsoft has responded to such suspicions: "Poppycock! Codswallop! FLAPDOODLE!" More »

CNBC: Zune Phone Is Real, Codenamed "Pink"

One of those rumors that won't ever die—the Zune phone—is now being touted by a reputable, legitimate news organization, CNBC. Jim Goldman (the guy that interviews Steve Jobs on CNBC after every Apple event) says that according a "good source," Microsoft is "ready to give a major facelift to the company's Zune music player that could mean its evolution into a new smart phone from the company." The project is codenamed Pink and "will combine the company's Zune and technology from Microsoft's purchase of Danger Inc." Update: If this rings a bell, it's because others have, in the past, referred to Microsoft's mysterious consumer smartphone initiative as "Pink" or "Purple and Pink" More »

Ballmer Hints at Zune Phone in Memo to Microsoft Employees

In a giant memo to Microsoft employees laying out strategy and changes for the next fiscal year, Steve Ballmer spends a paragraph comparing their way of doing things (choice) versus Apple (end-to-end). Unexceptional, except he says that More »

Portable XBox 360/Zune Phone Fantasy is Exactly What Microsoft Should Make

From the same T3 concept design stable that brought us the 2010 Wiimote yesterday comes this piece of pure gadget fantasy. Ramming a XBox 360 and a Zunephone into a slender, shiny little package is always going to be a great idea... and would undoubtedly sell like hotcakes. But considering there's no real Zune phone, and you can now buy bigger cases for the '360 rather than smaller, this is going to stay in fantasy land for a long while. [T3 via Yanko]

Allard on Zune 1 Failing, Hitching Zune to Xbox, and the Phone Yet To Come

What J. Allard reveals when he talks about Microsoft's (and his) plans for conquering all media isn't surprising—an integrated, single network for all of its entertainment products and services. NYT's Bits sums up his spiel in three sentences:

Even though the Zune and Xbox product brands are separate, they are ultimately meant to connect to the same central network. The online services for Xbox, Zune and future products will merge. Video will be a key part of this service.

Allard also shared his feelings about the first Zune—what he calls "failing fast"—and the potentially true rumors of a Zune phone. More »

Zune Gaming, Phone Not Coming Soon, But Definitely Possible

Although we may all be super excited at what the Zune is getting, here are two things that the Zune definitely is not getting soon (even though it's possible thanks to its new architecture): Gaming and Phoning. More »

Department of Duh: Microsoft Admits Zune Phone Not Unreasonable

The not-new-but-still-enjoyable video above is pegged to a fresh quote from a Microsoft exec, via Reuters: "It wouldn't be unreasonable to think at some point there might some integrated thing," Mindy Mount, chief financial officer of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, told investors at Citigroup's global technology conference. That was in response to asking about "a mobile phone combined with features of its Zune digital music player." More »

ZunePhone Shows its Superiority to the iPhone

Now that the iPhone music is available to buy on iTunes, it seems like everyone and his dog is getting on an iPhone parody trip. Here's the ZunePhone, a mock-up of what Microsoft's iPod Slayer would be like if it had Jesus-like qualities. [YouTube via TUAW]

Ballmer Says No Zune Phone...Sorta

Not that this would be the first time an exec was caught lying through his teeth about future products, but for the time being Ballmer is sticking to the idea their won't be a Zune phone coming from Microsoft. Kind of. More »

Samsung and Microsoft to Exchange Patent Info - Will This Help the Zunephone?

Remember the deal you made with the smart kid in school where he would let you cheat off his test and you would promise not to steal his lunch money? Samsung and Microsoft's just gone and done the same thing, except in their case they both fight for the nerd spot and the bully position goes empty. The two companies agreed to a deal that lets each other have access to patents for "computers, televisions, digital video recorders and digital media players." More »

Zune Phone Interface Revealed?

There's no way of telling whether this is the rumored Zune phone's interface, but the guys at Mad4Mobiles recently dug up this MS patent that shows what looks like a smartphone interface. The interface has icons for TV, music, weather and shopping. Personally I think it looks a little too cluttered, but if this is indeed the Zune phone interface, it looks like it'll be packed with features. – Louis Ramirez More »

Microsoft Ordering Fuel Cell Rechargers - For the Zune or the Zune Phone?

Although fuel cells aren't yet at the point where they can fit easily into devices like the Zune, the iPod, or cellphones, they are small enough to be used as rechargers. This is why Medis Technologies has produced the first of its Microsoft-branded fuel cell rechargers, and should be up to a capacity of 1 million units per month by the end of June. More »

12 Microsoft Patents That Paint a Zune Phone Picture

Despite semi-denials from Microsoft about the existence of the ZunePhone, we still have it on good word that the phone will be launched some time this year. And if you take all the patents Microsoft's filed lately and look at them through a ZunePhone lens, you'll see that there's even more evidence to prove that it's coming. More »

Even More Zune Phone Rumors! WiMax? VoIP? Sharing With Anybody?

Despite being pretty certain that the Zune Phone was already in development, we haven't had many details about its featureset, timeline, or, well, anything else. Now we do. More »

Further Proof of Incoming Zune Phone?

Earlier this week we smashed a rumor about a Zune Phone tech support call center contract. Today MarketWatch points out that the boys at Redmond have submitted a wireless device to the FCC for testing. Not just any wireless device, but one that can be used for talking over the Internet. Granted, the filing doesn't mention Zune, so we should take this with a grain of salt, but the mystery device will be able to route digital TV and voice calls. Whether it's a VoIP-enable Zune or something completely different, it does sound like MS has something interesting up their sleeves. – Louis Ramirez More »

Rumor Smashed: Philippine Call Center Not Awarded Zune Contract

Even though the Zune Phone is all but confirmed (there haven't been any formal announcements yet), we shouldn't be jumping to conclusions every time there's an announcement that somehow ties Microsoft to phones. Case in point, this morning Global Sky, a Philippine-based call center, issued a press release saying they were going to support Wi-Fi enabled Phones from Microsoft. Several sites jumped to the conclusion that this was, in fact, the Zune phone. However, it's actually something different. More »

Zune Phone: It's Coming

It's almost 100% confirmed that the Zune phone is coming. Crunchgear had a tip this morning that says Microsoft execs are working out the details of the device today, and are planning the date which the Zune Phone will be released. More »

Walmart Listing Zune at $284, Plus Zune Phone Coming Soon?

We know Wal-Mart's selling Zunes, but it looks like they've spilled the beans on the price as well. The Zune's listed at $284, leading us to think that the real MSRP will be $299.99. More »