A recent FCC filing by Microsoft for a "consumer broadband access and networking device" has sparked off a new wave of speculation about the possibility of a Zune phone being launched sometime soon.
When the Zune was announced last year, Microsoft did mention that there could be such a device in the Zune family, but did not speak specifics.
Various features have been associated with the product, including the ability to connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Xbox 360 console, the possibility of the phone not using the Windows Mobile operating system, instead operating on the Zune UI, and even WiMAX support.
The FCC filing doesn't directly indicate that it will be a Zune family product, however, Apple's recent iPhone announcement leads the thought that Microsoft might be looking at "being there too."
There are also rumors that the phone will be launched as early as March (gasp!) or at least by May or June, to compete with the iPhone before it becomes the iPod of mobile phones.
Various features have been associated with the product, including the ability to connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Xbox 360 console, the possibility of the phone not using the Windows Mobile operating system, instead operating on the Zune UI, and even WiMAX support.
The FCC filing doesn't directly indicate that it will be a Zune family product, however, Apple's recent iPhone announcement leads the thought that Microsoft might be looking at "being there too."
There are also rumors that the phone will be launched as early as March (gasp!) or at least by May or June, to compete with the iPhone before it becomes the iPod of mobile phones.
