We've always liked the look of Microsoft's Zune HD portable media player, and consequently found ourselves lambasting the fact that the device has remained available only to North American consumers.
However, if you're partial to the Zune experience, there's now reason for optimism following yesterday's introduction of the Windows Phone 7 Series. Microsoft's upcoming range of mobile phones will integrate full Zune functionality, and be available in regions across the world - but what does that mean for the Zune product range itself?
Well, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley put the question to Microsoft's senior marketing manager Casey McGee, who responded by stating that the Zune music/video service "will be available in all countries where Windows 7 Phones will ship".
That's a good sign, but we won't get our hopes up just yet. McGee could just be pointing out that the Zune marketplace - already available to most European users with an Xbox 360 - will be available in most countries, but not specifically via Zune-branded hardware. Then again, with the Zune infrastructure now falling into place on a global scale, surely the worldwide roll out of the Zune HD is inevitable?
Question is, is it now too little, too late to pose a real threat to the all-conquering iPod + iTunes combination?
