Oct 31, 2006
UK Launch Date
by Cesar Menendez at 11:01 AM

So we’ve said all along that we are looking at expanding Zune to other countries, but we haven't made any official announcements about timing. Many of you have seen the recent statement re:  U.K. availability. It was taken out of context, and it's not representative of the official Microsoft position.

Right now, everyone here's excited to launch Zune in the U.S. on November 14th, and I'll share  additional details on other countries as they become available.

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This info is from New Media Age UK (nma.co.uk) by Sam Matthews. They claim Dene Schonknecht of Microsoft made this statement. I c/p it here: ---------- Although the device is on track for release in the US on November 17th, it will miss the lucrative Christmas market in the UK and Europe this year and possibly next. One reason for the delay is reported to be that Microsoft has had no one to head up a UK and European launch – however the recently appointed head of Zune International will be building relationships in those areas. “They will be working on rolling out the Zune in the UK and Europe with its compatible Zune Market place,” said Dene Schonknecht, media and entertainment alliance manager at Microsoft. “We haven’t yet selected a music store provider to build marketplace in the UK, which means we’re way off launch.” ---------- How do you translate the "way off launch" statement of Dene Schonknecht in time terms ? Middle 2007? End of 2007? -- Zune-Online.com
Cesar, whoever is in charge of marketing The Zune at Microsoft should be fired! There's 14 days until the release and you guys don't even have a decent website up with information on the Zune. Lots of misinformation being spread about paying people for getting friends to buy songs and such. Why are you guys keeping everything a mystery.
Ok fair enough. Cesar can you answer this for me: Will i'll be able to buy a Zune within a few months or not? (Netherlands) And are the import limitations? Do I face problems when I import one?
johnny is right, just look at the comingzune website: absolutely no information on what the hell a zune is, just "arty" cartoons of birds being set on fire etc with just 2 weeks to go! i live in europe and am very dissappointed that i may have to wait a year for a zune, who is in charge of the release, did they just forget that there is a whole world outside of the usa?
Ok, that was it. I was really waiting to buy one, but since you are so US-centric... I'll have to go with iPod. I decided to buy a zune not so much because of it's crippled and almost useless wireless capabilities, but because of the screen for movies and fm tunner to fresh music and news without spending that much battery. Unfotunatelly, that kind of making things like hiding a europe release date and not having an official site with all the info we need, makes me not trust you guys, really I'm disapointed. I'm spending my money on apple, it's better looking and thinner... Cheers, Ricardo.
guys, I'll tell you that we'll be launching Zune.net very soon.
This rocks, just gives reason for more jokes about MS. Serious all kidding aside, how can MS pass on such a big chance to capitalise on Zune. This will give Apple & iPod yet another holiday season to make more $$$$, which might have gone to Zune. We just hope that they dont miss the US launch date too.
Gutted. I can't tell you how excited I was about the Zune. I've been toying with the idea of getting an iPod for about a year, but I wanted something that looked nice, would play music and videos and would not make me need to install Satan's creation, aka iTunes. Anyway.... I'm in Ireland, so I'm gutted about this. I guess I'll be importing one... I can live without a zune marketplace for now, it's the videos and my current music collection i want to have on the go. Hmm. Me sad.
"guys, I'll tell you that we'll be launching Zune.net very soon" Well that's a start! What about Ads on TV and websites? One of the things that made the iPod big was the constant ads everywhere! You'll need to do like the car companies and really get the Zune advertised on TV / radio / Internet / newspaper / bulleting boards / train / subway / malls / high-schools / colleges / hospitals / everywhere! And remember to keep them cool, informative, fun and innovative! Good luck Zune team!
Cesar, when you'll give us some info about Zune's European launch, please let us know whether for Microsoft Poland is in Europe (or is it some wild-east country, as it's for Apple)?
This statement kinda confirms something I've been thinking since seeing some more screenshots of the U.S. Zune Marketplace: “We haven’t yet selected a music store provider to build marketplace in the UK, which means we’re way off launch.” So that's why the Zune Marketplace looks so much like MTV's URGE.... :)
What about the Australia launch?
Thanks Cesar, I hope that means that the NMA story is off-base. It's clear there is quite a lot of international interest in Zune, and I hope the product, and Marketplace, can roll out soon after the US in Europe, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere. We'll stay tuned. Harvey http://www.zunerama.com
I'm not sure how anyone could take the comments from Microsoft about the late 2007 launches in the UK out of context. It seems pretty clear someone at your company has stated it, even you stated a month ago no where else will get it until sometime in 2007. Its just a little sad after the worldwide launch of the 360 is all. That and the fact its a year of lost sales to the ipod everywhere else.
put it this way, i was going to ask for 1 for christmas!! and if it ain't in the uk by then i'll get an ipod so will most other people, simple as that
What about Italy? I hope you're going to launch Zune early here... And what you need is ads. There are no iPod ads, so people will be well informed about Zune, instead of the iPod.
AArrgh!! So typical America to do this! Europe is a big marketplace! You should have had that in mind when you thought about selling the Zune! Remember that for those who are thinking about ti import one means that we will have to pay import-bill!! Now I am thinking about to get the new version of iPod Nano... Disappointed Swede!
Well I'm still liking the Zune, despite the Marketing mess - lets be honest, if evolution was left up to people in marketing we'd all be sat in caves trying work out if rocks were edible. "the earliest date it will be in the UK is towards the end of 2007. However, it could easily be 2008." Not entirely sure how this can be taken out of context, but there ya go! I appreciate you have only so much you're allowed to say Cesar, but from this angle it doesn't look to good for availablity over here. Luckily for Microsoft, I'd rather yuse drawing pins as contact lenses than use iTunes so I will probably pick a Zune up while I am state-side and just use it as a music player until AllofMP3 agree to be the back-end to Marketplace (hehe!). It's a big disappointment but so long as there are no import/export limits I don't think it's enough to put me off. I mean....it comes in Brown! come on! You still have a long way to go to beat Sony's treatment of their customers.
I feel the same as everybody. I waited to enter the large storage mp3 player market. Saw the Zune, very excited, wanted one straight away! Problem: I live in the UK. Ok, will be out for xmas? NOOOOOO Ok fine, i'll wait until after, i'm sure it'll be out in January/Febuary! Nooooo it won't. Screw it, i'm getting an iPod this christmas.
Why don't you allow Zunes to be shipped to Europe? This would allow all us early adopters to get a Zune in our hands.
Looks like your statement on not an offical microsoft stance is false as Head of MS in UK has said no plans to launch zune in UK? Some communications problems inside microsoft I think! http://hardware.silicon.com/pdas/0,39024643,39163800,00.htm quote > "But in an interview with silicon.com new Microsoft UK MD Gordon Frazer said there are currently no plans for a UK or global release for Zune." Looks like many more ipod sales leaving even more ground for ms to catch up!
People, please understand Microsoft. They know the Zune is lame, their ads are lame and very un-informative, and their website was late. They are going to make very little money from the Zune. Why spend more money than necessary producing more Zunes, and exporting them abroad? They are in damage control mode. They are trying to limit the damages to the US.

I've been looking forward till christmas now that the zune was coming out.anyways im in ireland and i might import one but wat is the reason the zune is not coming out in ireland until late 2007 early 2008.

Microsoft decided to bring out its own music player (partially because of Apple's success) but mainly because it thought that the other third party player developers were not doing it correctly (by Microsoft standards etc.) - so it must be a bitter pill to swallow seeing how Microsoft have "done it correctly"!  I do not want a 2 year old product when you finally decide to launch in Ireland - I wonder what the next Creative player will be like (the M:Vision looks good now)!

i want the zune now!(uk) and if i order it can i get an adapter to charge it with.if its not release in 3 months im buying an ipod (plz dont make me do this!)

FYI I bought one from the US on launch. It has no power lead as it charges from the USB on your PC/Laptop.Replace earphones as supplied ones aren't that good.Battery life is excellent.

Uploading tunes onto your Zune via the software isn't as intuative as it should be either, you have to build a 'playlist' and then sync it.

I have read on a review that you can only upload copy protected music? I have 400+ albums ripped without copy protection. Will i have to rip them all again. Also if i was to import one from US would the WiFi work?

Thanks

J

It is a shame now that Microsoft has what looks on the surface to be credible alternative to Apples iPod that they have not had the guts to launch it worldwide, without that it will never succeed. As a podcaster I am unable to fully support my US listeners who want to use their Zune's to listen to my output. I hope that changes Zune!

I'd just like to remind everyone thinking about buying a Zune to consider what Microsoft's did with 'marketplace' for the XBOX 360.

It's been a couple of years since the XBOX360 was launched globally, and there's still no Video Marketplace for international customers and not much in the way of news about:

a) when it'll be delivered

b) whether we'll be getting a limited selection of content compared to US customers

c) and how fair the content pricing will be, especially considering the weak dollar.

Until Microsoft comes clean I certainly won't consider the Zune, no matter how nicely it integrates with the Microsoft ecosystem!

It's my birthday in 2 weeks and i am needing to buy a new mp3 player, and i (like many people) have to chose between the zune 80 and the ipod classic 80gb. Right now i am edging slightly more towards the ipod because; i already have all of my music set up on itunes, i cant use zune marketplace in the uk, and i can buy it from a highstreet retailer and return it if it breaks.      

However, i want the zune!!!  It looks so much better, and everyone else i know has an ipod and i want something different.  

Can anyone tell me any other reason to go for the zune?  Or if its market place will become available in the uk?  Thank you :D

When is the zune going to be avalible in the uk i already have one but i cant buy songs or download the software as i live in the uk.

this is the worst thing i have ever bought not the zune but the trouble to get songs and software to use it.

Bloody microsoft waste of time....

The zune is death ???

Brought the Zune 80gb in the states 3 months ago and it is a superb bit of kit. You can install the Zune Marketplace software and i find it tonnes better then Itunes (Which has now been deleted!!)

Granted you cant do it the conventional way and you can not buy songs from MArketplace (yet) but it is far superior then Itunes.

I found lots of interesting information on zuneinsider.com. The post was professionally written and I feel like the author has extensive knowledge in the subject. zuneinsider.com keep it that way.

Cool!

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