Microsoft Zune Chief Praises, Criticizes iPhone

Chief of Microsofts Zune division, J Allard, both criticized and praised the iPhone during an interview, as well as revealed intentions to compete more effectively at Microsoft. Among his complaints are that Apple focused more on the phone as a whole and not enough on the "iPod" aspect of it. He also says that it's a step back for the ergonomics of music playback.

"It’s a lousy iPod," Allard explains. "You can’t skip a track without looking at it. You can’t go running with the thing."

Despite this, he acknowledges it as the first cellphone to offer a truly strong browsing experience, calling it "beautiful" and "simple" compared to most other phones. He also notes that it might have a benefit for Windows Mobile by increasing competition and forcing carriers to "check their ego at the door" and allow them to handset designers to have more control over the final output, rather than limiting hardware and software to what suits the carrier's profit levels.

So what is Microsoft planning in response to the iPhone? Quite simply, they plan to play the same card Apple did for the iPhone with the iPod and integrate their own Zune into WIndows Mobile. While they note that a Zune-phone is unlikely, he says that the basic core functions will influence the media and calling features of the OS. However, they say "never say never". If they decide working with a third party won't work, they might make their own cellphone.

"If we can put the customer first, we prefer to do it with partners. We didn’t create the Zune because we were dying to get into the hardware business and take inventory risk. We felt we had to do it," he says. "Windows was incredible. We got to create most of the magic and take none of the financial risk. History isn’t going to repeat that with consumer goods."

[via New York Times]