Microsoft announced today that they will be expanding their Zune marketplace, music and video services to international markets this fall. Microsoft made plans to launch their Zune services internationally earlier this month.
Zune will be expanding some of its services to international markets this fall, including Zune Pass in UK, France, Italy and Spain, their music purchase service in UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany, and their video purchasing in UK, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Microsoft will also be expanding their movie rental service in 14 countries including: UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Microsoft's press release listed all of the features that each country and service will be providing, including detailed pricing for the expanding services:
Zune Marketplace will extend services to several markets in Europe and beyond.
Zune Pass (U.K., France, Italy and Spain). The monthly music subscription service will be available for 9.99 euros /8.99 pounds per month for unlimited download and streaming access to the Zune music catalog and will be accessible on Windows-based PCs, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE. The offer in the U.S. will remain at $14.99 per month for unlimited downloads and streaming access, with the ability to keep 10 MP3s per month.
Music purchase (U.K., France, Italy, Spain and Germany). Expansion to these markets will enable consumers to purchase MP3s and listen on their Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 or any other device that supports MP3 format. Users will also be able to purchase music videos to enjoy on Windows-based PC, Windows Phone 7 and Zune on Xbox LIVE.
Video purchase (U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Consumers will now be able to purchase movies to download and watch anywhere — on the big screen in the living room with Xbox LIVE or their Windows-based PC as well as sync it to their Windows Phone 7 to enjoy on the go.
Movie rental (U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). In addition to Zune video on Xbox LIVE, consumers in these countries will now be able to rent movies for viewing on their Windows-based PC or choose to sync the rental to their Windows Phone 7.
The global expansion of the service is the latest step in a series of milestones for Zune, including powering Bing music search results, the added ability to purchase music and video on Zune.net, and the forthcoming integration with Xbox LIVE and Kinect for Xbox 360. By continuing to integrate Zune across the most important screens to consumers, Zune provides an all-in-one music and video service for users to discover, enjoy and experience their entertainment wherever they want.
With the expanding services, the Zune software will see an update to version 4.7 in the coming weeks and will be available in over 20 countries to manage, purchase and rent thousands of songs and videos. Windows Phone 7 users will also be able to enjoy the benefits of Zune Pass on their phone, with unlimited streaming and song downloads directly on your device.
Microsoft didn't mention if the Zune HD will also be available internationally, but rumors suggest that that Zune HD2 might be in the works, which we may see in the Spring, after the launch of Windows Phone 7.
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