Red Zune 80GB and New Collection of Artwork Debut on Zune Originals

Customizable gift options and themed playlists from Zune Marketplace help
consumers share the love this Valentine's Day.

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Responding to consumer
excitement for the Zune 80GB, Microsoft Corp. is making the popular wireless
digital media player available in red with Zune Originals, just in time for
Valentine's Day. Inspired by the themes of love and sharing, an exclusive
collection of 20 new laser-engraved designs will be available to consumers for
a limited time at http://www.zuneoriginals.net; in addition, Zune Marketplace
will feature Valentine's Day playlists that can be shared with friends or
loved ones Zune to Zune or via the Zune Social online music community.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080115/AQTU069)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)
"Zune gives consumers a dynamic canvas that is brought to life by the
music, pictures, videos and podcasts they fill it with," said Scott Erickson,
senior director of product management for Zune at Microsoft. "Zune Originals
makes it easy to design a customized player, while wireless sharing and the
Zune Social online music community give people new ways to connect."
Zune Originals gives customers more options to personalize their player
with 20 new designs celebrating love and sharing that can be laser-engraved on
the back of their Zune. The new Valentine's Day series features artwork from
four new artist collectives -- Colorblok, Friends With You, PSYOP and Studio
Play Pretend -- and is available exclusively at http://www.zuneoriginals.net
through Feb. 14. Each new graphic can be paired with up to three lines of
text, letting consumers add a personal message; if no graphic is chosen, up to
five lines of text are available. For a limited time, Zune Originals also
offers a gift-wrap option and shipping at no additional charge.* With the
addition of the Valentine's Day series, customers can now choose from more
than 65 designs, to create a custom wireless player in the size and color they
want.
The Zune Marketplace online store makes it easy to load the Zune player
with favorite love songs that can be shared wirelessly Zune to Zune or with
friends via Zune Social. To find their perfect Valentine's Day soundtrack,
consumers can browse playlists such as "Hip Hop Valentine," "80s Love,"
"Broken Love," and "Talk to Me, Barry," love jams from the legendary Barry
White featuring spoken introductions. Zune software also makes it easy for
people to create their own playlists in seconds by simply dragging and
dropping songs to the playlist icon.
With a bright 3.2-inch screen and premium in-ear noise-isolating
headphones, the red Zune 80GB is the latest addition to the new line of Zune
wireless players, which also includes the slim, ultra-portable Zune 4GB and
Zune 8GB, available in pink, green, black and red. All three models offer
wireless sync and sharing, a built-in FM tuner, and the new Zune Pad, a
touch-sensitive navigation button that lets people fly through menus or lists
with the flick of the thumb, or click to easily change songs or adjust the
volume. The Zune 80GB (estimated retail price $249), Zune 8GB (ERP $199) and
Zune 4GB (ERP $149) are available at retailers nationwide and at
http://www.zuneoriginals.net.
More information on great Zune Valentine's Day offers from Zune Originals
and retailers nationwide is available at http://www.zune.net/valentines. About
Zune
Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment brand that provides an
integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line
of wireless digital media players, the Zune Marketplace online store, and Zune
Social online music community. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and
Devices Division and supports the company's software-based services vision to
help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can
be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
* See http://www.zuneoriginals.net for details.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Taffy Spencer of Edelman, +1-503-471-6805,
taffy.spencer@edelman.com, for Microsoft Corp.