Zune Diary: Zune Marketplace---Marketplace short on ideas
[author:summermonica Public time:Jun 21, 2007] |
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Hand-in-hand with this relationship is the increasing interest in purchasing music online—driven largely by the iTunes Store. While Microsoft could have made the Zune yet another Plays4Sure device—allowing it to work with music purchased from such online music merchants as Rhapsody, Yahoo! Music, and Napster—it chose, instead, to mimic the iPod/iTunes model by creating a music service tied specifically to the Zune and its software. In today’s installment of the Zune Diary I take a gander at the Marketplace to see what it offers.
On account
If you haven’t already created a Zune Tag while initially setting up the Zune, you can do so after the fact. Just click Sign In at the top of the Zune software window and a Signing Into Zune dialog box appears. Click the Create a New Account link and then click Sign In (you needn’t create a new ID if you have an Xbox Live account). Up pops the same Create Your Zune Tag dialog box that appears during Zune setup. After choosing a unique user name you’re told that you need a Windows Live ID. If you have an MSN, Hotmail, or Passport Network account you already have one. If so, you can select an option that queries you for that information. I didn’t have a Windows Live ID so I set about creating one.
What follows is pretty much standard operating procedure. You provide an email address, password, and configure a security question. Then enter account information that includes such required data as your name, language, state of residence, phone number, date of birth, and contact email address. Fill this out correctly and Microsoft sends an email that asks you to confirm or cancel the request for the Windows Live ID. Browse to the included link, enter username and password, and you’re good to go.
Return to the Zune software and you see you’re offered the option to visit the Zune Marketplace, buy Microsoft Points, or get a Zune Pass subscription. Let’s briefly look at the second option.
What’s the Point?
Unlike other online music services, the Zune Marketplace doesn’t use “real” currency. Instead, ZM uses Microsoft Points—Microsoft’s own currency worth 1.25 cents per point. Tracks at the ZM cost 79 points, which equals $.9875 per track. You can’t purchase tracks or albums without first purchasing points—in other words, you can’t select a track, click buy, and expect $.9875 to be charged to your credit card. Instead you must purchase blocks of points—400 points for $5 is the minimum (you’re also offered the option to purchase 1,200 points for $15, 2,000 points for $25, and 4,000 points for $50). Note that the price of these points doesn’t include “applicable taxes.”
What’s wrong with this scheme other than the fact that it tends to hide the true value of what you’re purchasing? You’re always leaving a little something in the bank for Microsoft.
Source: http://playlistmag.com
Printed From:http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200706/1182440360.html
Source:Free Press Release
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