Gizmodo calls Microsoft to the carpet

Brian Lam on Gizmodo, citing an appearance by Microsoft VP for Entertainment and Device division Mindy Mount at a Citigroup Technology luncheon in New York earlier today, is calling for Microsoft to put up or shut up and release a Zune phone.

This is what Mindy said:

“Clearly we do identify Mobile being more integrated with photos and music. It’s a natural thing to have in our product roadmap,” said Mount.

Here's what Brian said:

Note to Microsoft: You guys are wimps if you don't step into the Apple arena with a Zune phone.

Wimps? I'm not so sure about that. I think Microsoft WILL release a Zune phone, the only question is when. After the dust settles of the new iPods? Waiting to see what the Jobster has in mind? Probably so on both counts.

There are already rumors of a Zune 2.0 but Microsoft being Microsoft, it often feels like it takes an act of Congress to get them moving. Case in point is the Zune itself.

Just like when Bill Gates "discovered" this thing called the Internet and the Netscape browser, when Microsoft finally gets around to moving, it's not usually with speed but with force. Deep pockets will do that for a company.

Hence, the Zune 1.0. It didn't need to knock the ball out of the park, just get Microsoft on base. Even if it turns out to be only first base, at least they are now in the game. And they can afford to be there as long as it takes. That's the force.

The main problem IMO is Steve Ballmer. He doesn't appear to have the force of will or sense of change that Bill does, albeit Bill isn't always the swiftest boat in the race either.

A Zune phone is a no-brainer to me at some point. It already has much of the infrastructure in place on the Zune device itself. Figuring a way to add in phone capabilities is what all those software and product designers are paid to do. Don't think Bill was sitting on that stage at All Things Digital with Steve not feeling the iPhone swell or even corporate envy.

Both Microsoft and Palm already have items in their war chest that can become consumer focused, entertainment primarily, (smart) phones. Microsoft with the Zune and Palm with either the T/X or LifeDrive (or both).

Even with the ancient Garnet OS, Palm could get a first generation iPhone like device to market. And Microsoft can go all consumer with their version of the Zune Phone by leaving Windows Mobile 6 out of the equation for the first go round. (Heck, they could even slap all of those copies of Microsoft Works they have lying around on the thing and call it a day. Okay, maybe not.)

What's taking them so long is simple stupidity underestimating the demand of the consumer market for these types of devices as both companies are continually focused on the wrong things at the wrong time. Both companies seem to be at a loss for a visionary leader, even if that leader is reactionary, and the vision comes after someone else's vision.

But to think Microsoft, sensing the tides turning with Apple slowly gaining market share and Palm needing something to make them solvent relevant again are not going to come back at some point with something can only be attributed to missing the big picture of how corporations operate. At least those corporations that want to survive.

But props to Brian, maybe Steve/Bill will read his post and comment like Ed did in response to Engadget. Not likely, but who would have thought we'd have a day without the Foleo in our (near) future either?