With Microsoft apparently set to stop selling its Zune MP3 player hardware, what does that mean for HD Radio?
Microsoft introduced the Zune HD in 2009. IBiquity Digital President/CEO Bob Struble says the company loves the Zune and would be sorry to see it go.
“It has had a longer run than most consumer electronics products, and blazed the trail for HD Radio portable products. When Microsoft built HD Radio Technology into the Zune HD in 2009, it drove a tremendous amount of development activity focused on new lower-power, lower-cost solutions,” he said.
“The broader HD Radio portable market will benefit from these new innovations for years to come.”
To be clear, Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the change. As we reported yesterday, several outlets believe the company is planning to retain the Zune brand name as a software-and-services platform but drop the music player due to poor sales.
IBiquity credits the Zune HD with contributing to the continued growth of overall HD Radio receiver sales, which now stand at more than 4 million, according to the technology developer.
— Leslie Stimson
