In addition to not having any more WMA files in the marketplace (save for the Zune Pass rentals) and getting more indie bands like Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend back into the store, Microsoft is bringing their Zune Pass overseas as well to all those countries above except Germany. US pricing is still $US15, but it’ll be €9.99 or £8.99, but with no 10-track keepers per month, like they have in the US.
What’s great about Zune Pass (as well as just regular music purchasing) is that it’s now applicable to all three of Microsoft’s platforms: PC, Xbox and Windows Phone. By now, I suppose I mean when WinPho launches and Xbox gets patched, but that’s by the end of the year.
HD video rentals and purchases work the same, with the ability to rent something on your PC and stream it to your Xbox 360, as well as syncing it to your Win Pho.
Here’s the big list of international expansion.
- 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 $US14.99 per month for unlimited downloads and streaming access, with the ability to keep 10 MP3s per month.8
- 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.9
- 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.
Stuart
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 3:54 PMTypical – Australia misses out (in part) again. I would MUCH rather have access to the Zune music catalogue than their movie catalogue – especially if the current poor offering on Xbox Live is anything to go by. This was a perfect opportunity for Microsoft to really take the bull by its horns and blow the competition out of the water by releasing Windows Phone 7 in combination with Zune music and movies service simultaneously worldwide. Instead, we are offered a half-assed option with barely a dozen countries involved. We’ve all seen how long it took Microsoft just to get their basic movie service to Australian residents – which pales in comparison with what’s available in the US – how many more years will we have to wait for music? Disappointing.
Rick
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 6:12 PMCan Gizmodo do some research as to why Australia has such poor options for Video and Music options?
PHuZy
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 6:45 PMI damn well hope that’s not the end of it with Zune and supposedly going ‘International’
Micrsooft really needs to pull it from their ‘A*S’ and become an Online Music Store rival.
All we’ve got in the rival’s iTunes…
g1nchy
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 1:00 AMMICROSOFT ive been holding out for the WM7. I want my ZUNE music content in Australia. I want my ZUNE music content in Australia. I want my ZUNE music content in Australia. Is anyone hearing me? Probably Not. Sounds like a Fail coming on.
Stuart
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 8:50 AMCould we be missing out on the Zune music service in Australia so that BigPond can continue to flog its own music service off to customers? Shouldn’t competition be encouraged?
cris
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 9:24 AMfunny how gizmodo fails to mention the zune hd since thats what the marketplace was designed for
Daniel Weaver-Koenigs
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 11:03 PMMassively disappointed. I really was ready to jump on the Zune bandwagon.
Meh, I’ll continue to buy hard copies of CD’s and pay no more than online content anyway a couple of weeks after release. Far better option than using that awful itunes rubbish.
clive b
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:06 PMWhich CD retailer do you use? Thanks.
chelle
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:40 PMI love my Zune, but am very sad that the marketplace is not available in Australia and I can no longer use it since I moved down under. Please don’t make me switch to itunes!!!!!!