Zune Software and Service Go Abroad

The Zune PC client software for content synchronization and the Zune Marketplace for music and video purchases will be available outside North America for the first time in fall 2010. Microsoft’s announcement sets the stage for the release of the Windows Phone 7 smartphone platform, expected in fall 2010, but plans for the Zune HD portable digital media player are unclear.

Ready for Windows Phone 7

The Zune software has been used to synchronize audio and video between Windows PCs and Zune devices, and is currently available only in the United States and Canada. However, the next version of the software, Zune 4.7, will synchronize audio, video, and pictures between Windows PCs and Phone 7 devices, so Microsoft will release it in all countries where Phone 7 handsets are sold. More than 20 countries in total are planned, although Microsoft has not revealed a precise list of countries or a launch date.

The Zune Marketplace is an online service that currently lets users buy audio and video through the Zune PC client, Zune.net Web site, or a wireless-connected Zune device. For music, customers can also subscribe to the Zune Pass, which gives them unlimited temporary downloads that expire when they cancel the subscription. In 2009, Microsoft launched a specialized version of the service that lets customers download or stream video (but not music) to an Xbox 360 console through the Xbox Live service.