Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, pronounced May 31 that it will partner with TOSHIBA, JVC, and NTT-Domoco in making a media player and providing plenty of music and video services in Japan, which will challenge Apple's iPod.

They are going to jointly offer a portable media player in order to challenge iPod's monopoly in this field. Microsoft will be in charge of the R&D work, while TOSHIBA and JVC will make the hardware facilities.

Furthermore, as the biggest Mobile Telecommunication producer in Japan, Docomo will present a kind of cellular which is compatible with the Microsoft made software. Customers can transfer music in the form of Windows to the cellular.

At present, iPod takes an absolute advantage in U.S.'s digital media player market. It also holds certain amount of market shares in global market. Thanks to the busy season in the end of last year, the global sales of iPod increased to 14 million. The sale of the first quarter alone of this year was 8.5 million.

By People's Online