Zune Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

What if filling up on Microsoft Points was as easy as picking up your phone and having the cost added to your phone bill? That's how it is for NTT DoCoMo users in Japan, and hopefully, that's just a starting point.

If Microsoft is working with other carriers to make this available around the world, great. If not, they probably should. A vast majority of Xbox Live Marketplace and Zune Marketplace users probably have a mobile device of some sort - some have their reasons against directly linking their Windows Live ID and credit card together, while others don't always want to make the trek to their local store to pick up one of the many Microsoft Points cards on offer, so this third option makes a lot of sense.

"Microsoft has strongly advised Australians to avoid buying its Zune music player from local retailers. The software giant is yet to announce plans to distribute the device in Australia, but that did not stop one Australian retailer from obtaining stock. Mwave.com.au, an online store based in Sydney, sells the Zune for $389. It appears to be the first and only retailer in Australia to stock the player, although some second-hand units have been sold through eBay. An Mwave spokesman said "about 100 units" had been sold since it began stocking the Zune in late December last year."

Unsurprisingly, Microsoft Australia has warned against the purchasing of the Zune in Australia for all the reasons that one would expect: no local support, lack of accessories, and an out-of-reach Zune Marketplace. Of course, that hasn't stopped me (and a few Australian MVPs that I know) from adopting one. Yes, it's understandable that Microsoft Australia does not want to be inundated with support requests, but I feel this is moot when (a) the reseller (Mwave) has stated that Microsoft will not support the Zune locally, and (b) courtesy of the non-existent local advertising, most who purchase the Zune in Australia know that it's a US-only release. What would eliminate these uncertainties is an official release of the Zune in Australia and other countries, but hey, that doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon. :(

I couldn't help but chuckle at PvPonline.com's Friday comic (click the link to see the entire strip), which harmlessly stabbed the Zune and its sharing capabilities. It brings forth a question that's been on my mind for quite some time: how many of you have successfully shared music with a friend's or stranger's Zune, liked the music, and followed through and purchased it (either from the Zune Marketplace or your favourite 'brick and mortar' store)? I'm guessing not many, given Zune's current day infancy.