VIDEO: Microsoft attacks Apple over iTunes prices

Claims it costs $30,000 to fill a 120GB iPod

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12 May 2009 13:06 GMT / By Duncan Geere

Microsoft's assault against Apple on the pricing front continues, with the latest salvo coming from its Zune division. A recent advert contrasts the price of filling up an iPod with the subscription cost for its Zune Pass service.

Microsoft claims that it costs $30,000 to fill a 120GB iPod, estimating each song to be approximately 4MB and cost $1. By that maths, it would take 166 years and 8 months of Zune Pass subscription to rack up a bill of $30,000.

The Zune Pass, which isn't available in the UK (nor are the Zune players), allows users to pay a $15 subscription each month for unlimited, but DRMed, downloads. As of last November, you're allowed to keep ten tracks a month from Zune Pass for good.

It's proved popular with Zune owners, but hasn't enabled Microsoft to do much damage to the iPod overall - probably because (as Pocket-lint has previously reported) 48% of the average iPod's content has been downloaded illegally.

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Audio, Microsoft, Apple, Zune, iPod, Advertising, Video, iTunes
UK Shopping
advancedmp3players.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk, play.com, pixmania.co.uk, iTunes, apple.com/uk, ebay.co.uk
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Amazon.com, bestbuy.com, ebay.com, apple.com

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Comments

  • Looks like Microsoft are going out on a price-centric offensive now, since the economic landscape has changed so much as of late. First the attack on the Macs (one which I personally love; plus you can upgrade a PC), and now the iPod.

    Who's up for them attacking the iPhone with a Windows Mobile 6.5 device next?

    However, I doubt ZunePass will work when you couple it with an iPod. Which is where they have their problem. You can change subscriptions right after the minimum term; you can't change your MP3 player so easily.

    Just for reference, you can get Zunes through eBay/Amazon. Some people make a living off importing them, which is odd considering how they aren't selling too well. ;]
    Posted by Allan, England, UK
  • WHAAAA? who buys songs? Besides a big screen for movies, you can fill an iphone/ ipod quite quickly with podcasts, ripped music, ripped video, Pictures, of and over 30,000 applications. I really think microsoft marketing doesn't understand the market.
    FAIL!
    Posted by stu gorf, USA
  • Well if you are into buying 'legal' music but still want affordable songs, buy songs off of Amazon. Check out their daily mp3 deals and you can get complete album downloads for about $2 bucks - now thats a good deal. I use the following to track the deal (its the first one on there)

    http:///www.frugalgadgets.com
    Posted by Mike, US

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