Microsoft Zune Now Available

Microsoft’s Zune digital media player was officially launched today. Retailing at just under $250, the Zune device will be widely available - at nearly 30,000 U.S. retailers, according to Microsoft.

Available in black, brown and white, the 30GB Zune digital media player is equipped with wireless functionality for Zune-to-Zune sharing of select music, pictures and home recordings; a bright, 3-inch LCD video screen that works in portrait or landscape mode to display pictures and videos; and a built-in FM tuner.

The Zune player was designed to work seamlessly with the Zune software and Zune Marketplace music service, giving consumers an easy way to find, manage and enjoy their music, pictures and video. As new features become available, Zune owners will be able to update the software on their existing device.

To mark the U.S. launch of the new Zune digital media player and music service, Microsoft has worked with a number of cutting-edge artists to stage free concerts in public parks and plazas in urban centers across the country.

Yesterday at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle at the first of these Zune concerts, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates took the stage to share his excitement for this next step Microsoft is taking in music and entertainment. Gates outlined the Zune vision to create new ways for people to connect, discover and share music and entertainment experiences.

“We wanted to bring Zune to life with a celebration of live music, shared between artists and fans across the country, and really make today all about embracing the social aspect of music,” said Bryan Lee, corporate vice president of the Entertainment Busines at Microsoft. “Zune is all about changing the game to make music more social, and at launch we are just scratching the surface of how wireless technology is going to enable social interaction in the future.”