Reuters.com have recently been speaking with Andy Lees, Senior VP Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business and he had this to say about Microsoft's view on Music Experience for future releases of Windows Mobile.

Andy Lees:

Microsoft Corp will focus on improving music in future versions of its Windows Mobile software for mobile phones.

Andy Lees:

One thing that Apple has leveraged on is the music scenario, and I think that that is something the operators and ourselves are partnering on, just to make sure that consumers can use live music in the best way

Andy Lees:

Music in cellphones is a huge business opportunity, since every year consumers bought 10 times as many music-enabled cellphones as iPods.

This suggests a replacement of Windows Media Player for Mobile with either a Zune Player for Mobile or something completely new.

 

In Q1 2008, Microsoft shipped 4.3m Windows Mobile smartphones - up 1.9m units from Q1 2007.

In Q1 2008, Apple sold just 1.7m iPhones.

Research firm IDC forecast sales of Windows Mobile smartphones to consumers will double that of the iPhone in the next 4 years.

This again substantiates predictions that Microsoft will claim 40% of the smartphone market by 2012.

This sounds great I just hope three things:

1. Drop DRM.
2. Support of standard formats (AAC and OGG in particular)
3. Propper tagging support

 Today's Windows Media Player 10 Mobile is a pathetic excuse of music player, not to speak of video...

95% of the time I carry around both my iPod and my Windows Mobile, just because it's frustrating to use the Windows Mobile for music. When it's really hot outside and I don't have lots of pockets (about 5-6 weeks a year in Norway...) I leave the iPod at home and use the third-party app PocketMusic with a AAC plugin. It's not perfect, but it works... 

Gaute:

1. Drop DRM.
2. Support of standard formats (AAC and OGG in particular)
3. Propper tagging support

I think that DRM is definitely here to stay, the music industry would blow a fuse if Microsoft dropped it.

Expanded format is certainly something that I would welcome as well.

Tagging - Yes! Plus the ability to read embedded album art

Gaute:

a pathetic excuse of music player

Graphically lacking, but pathetic? It works fine for me. It does need a facelift, that is for sure, but I think that it simply needs expanding upon.

Gaute:

both my iPod and my Windows Mobile

I carry both as well, but simply due to hacing 30Gb on my iPod and just 8Gb on my phone.

In terms of quality, I find that my Windows Mobile devices blows the iPod away when comparing the same track on each.

 

 If the Music Experience can be made a little slicker, and the storage cards ramp onto 16Gb and 32Gb capacity, I'll be very happy to ditch my iPod and use my Window Mobile Device exclusively.

 I like the wireless transfer between Zunes and would like to see this brought onto the Mobile player.

 Zune Player mobile please...

Biomehanika:

 I think that DRM is definitely here to stay, the music industry would blow a fuse if Microsoft dropped it.

 

I don't think so. See how well iTunes Plus (DRM free) goes, more and more record companies drop DRM. Here in Norway all but SonyBMG has dropped DRM on Norwegian music, and the digital sales is rapidly increasing.

 I think the last few record companies (SonyBMG, Universial, Warners) soon will realise that DRM only hurt themselves and helps promote piracy.

The customers hate DRM, it reduces quality and makes piracy more attractive. Why they insist on putting DRM on digital music when 97% of the total music sales (CD's and vinyl) is completely DRM free is beyond me...

 Steve Jobs thoughts on music is a very interesting read.

Gaute:

Steve Jobs thoughts on music is a very interesting read.

Good article - good to see that Apply would welcome DRM free music.

Biomehanika:

I carry both as well, but simply due to hacing 30Gb on my iPod and just 8Gb on my phone.

In terms of quality, I find that my Windows Mobile devices blows the iPod away when comparing the same track on each.

I guess my only question is:  How often in a normal day does one need 30 gigs of music?  I've got 2 gigs worth and that's enough for me most days.

lukewarm81:

How often in a normal day does one need 30 gigs of music?

Actually, more often than you'd think.

I'm very eclectic and so my collection spans, proabably, every genre. But, I have days where I fancy listening to some Drum & Bass, others where I'll listen to some Metal and then days where I fancy a real mix.

I have 2Gb of music on my phone, which is a good portion of my favourite tracks, but it really isn't enough. A 32Gb MicroSD would keep me happy though.

The other side is that I also have alot of photos and videos that I view on my phone. 3Gb of photos, 1Gb of videos and 2Gb of Music, doesn't leave much room for .cabs, sounds and documents on an 8Gb card.

 

lukewarm81:

How often in a normal day does one need 30 gigs of music? 

I think it's not a matter of needing all that music , but having the choice of all that music.