Microsoft says Zune players available Tuesday

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates addresses the crowd at a launch party for the Zune media player in downtown Seattle November 13, 2006. Microsoft said Monday it will begin sales of three new versions of its Zune digital media player -- its answer to Apple's iPod -- on Tuesday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) said Monday it will begin sales of three new versions of its Zune digital media player -- its answer to Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPod -- on Tuesday.

Microsoft originally introduced the new models last month. They can wirelessly and automatically update their music, photos and videos when placed near a user's computer.

Apple has sold more than 100 million iPods in various shapes and sizes since the 2001 launch. By comparison, Microsoft joined the fray last year with a single 30-gigabyte Zune model and has sold 1.2 million.

(Reporting by Franklin Paul, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)