14 DAY TRIAL // In an attempt to simplify management and to align products, Microsoft is performing changes to more of its services, the latest of which being Zune.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, the company announced the launch of Xbox Music, a new service for its users.
The company also showed a sneak peek at Xbox Music and unveiled that it is intended to become an all-new music service that will be accessible from Xbox 360, Windows Phone and Windows 8-based devices.
A while ago, Microsoft said that it planned on making Xbox its only brand for entertainment, and the availability of Xbox Music comes as a proof of that.
However, the availability of the new service will result in the death of Zune, and Microsoft appears to be determined to step on this road.
Basically, Microsoft is killing the Zune brand, so as to replace it with the better-known Xbox name. No specific info on when the shift will take place has emerged so far, but the Redmond-based giant is expected to announce more on the matter soon.
However, the company will make sure that Zune users will be able to continue to benefit from access to their playlists through the new Xbox Music service, a recent post on New York Times reads.
In addition to the music service associated with the Xbox brand, Microsoft will also launch a video service in the same family.
In fact, it has already announced that both services, along with gaming capabilities, will be available for the owners of Windows 8-powered devices later this year.
“This year Xbox will bring premium entertainment experiences to more than 180 new countries around the world when Xbox on Windows 8 launches, featuring four Metro-style apps: Video, Music, Games and Xbox SmartGlass,” the company said.
These services will be available to users through Xbox on Windows 8, which will put music, movies, TV shows and games in users' hands even when they are on the go.