Microsoft revamps music strategy to compete with Apple
WinInfo | at | by Mike
Stung by a series of defeats at the hands of Apple Computer's iTunes and iPod products, Microsoft is revamping its digital music strategy in a bid to regain lost momentum. WinInfo Daily UPDATE readers already know about the first phase of this new battle: As I exclusively reported on May 27, Microsoft now plans to ship a public beta of Windows Media Player 11 (code-named Polaris and originally scheduled for inclusion in Longhorn) in November 2005. Phase two, according to recent reports, is an MSN Music subscription service. And phase three, according to a report this week in "The Wall Street Journal," is new leadership: Microsoft has brought over Xbox maven Robbie Bach, senior vice president of the company's Home & Entertainment Division, to run the music business.