14 DAY TRIAL // Since the Zune music player appeared in 2006, the media has created a real frenzy around the fact that Microsoft was working to turn this device into a mobile phone. This rumor first appeared at Zune's release, when one of the executives at Microsoft was asked whether the device might ever be turned into a cell phone. The answer was somehow ambiguous, and thus, ever since, we've all lived with the impression that a Zune phone is most likely to come in the future.
However, it now seems that all the rumors we've heard were unfounded, while it also looks like CNBC's Jim Goldman's sources have been wrong all along. In any case, the idea is that all these claims have been taken much too seriously at a time when it was not the case.
Still, after considering all the claims made on the subject, the only ones ringing true are, as expected, those regarding Danger Inc.’s plans of mobile production.
In order to shed more light on the previous statements, Matt Rosoff, an analyst at the independent Directions on Microsoft research firm, lends a hand with his declaration, saying, "Windows Mobile may have stalled in the water while the iPhone and RIM phones have continued to take market share, but to Microsoft, 11% global market share and 16 million units a year isn't unsuccessful enough to kill the platform and change strategy completely.".
Also, a new kind of rumor is gaining ground, which states that only the Zune music service might be included on mobiles phones, Microsoft-released or not. This new “whisper” seems to make a lot of sense and we cannot find a reason to infirm it, but that's exactly what was believed regarding the Zune phone development as well.
In any case, this article is not stating that the Zune phone is not viable, or that it should not be regarded as a real solution, just that, for now, such a phone development from Microsoft is much more unlikely than claims were implying.