As it was suspected, Microsoft will copy Apple (once more...) for its iPod killer economical model. So the digital player will come with its dedicated software and its online music library.
One can easily imagine that Microsoft will invest big money in marketing and to make the product available everywhere possible.
There will be 2 models corresponding to the iPod and iPod nano, the highest configuration will feature WiFi.
It can also better explain the delay of the current iPod models, Apple is probably waiting for the Microsoft iPod killer specs, in order to adapt the future iPod models update.
So the next iPod generation should bring substantial feature enhancement.
The war will really start in October, but Microsoft will have a tough time. The usual Microsoft's economical model, either based on its monopoly, or on a "cheap and dirty" strategy, will not be transposable here: a bit difficult to offer for free a digital music player, and expect online music sales to compensate; other possibility would be to block installation of iTunes on Windows-based PC...
So, Microsoft will have to fight according to the rules. In addition the on-going conflict with EU will not give Redmond's giant any opportunity to play with the laws.
Music majors will be back on track, and feel stronger with a potential serious competitor to fight iTMS success.
So far, Apple has decided the price of the music track, and recently the agreement has been renewed on the basis of 0.99$/€ per track.
In the coming months, Music majors might get a new job: referee of the game between Microsoft and Apple. In this case, such competition might deserve customer's interests, and lead to a substantial increase of online music tracks or albums.
