Hardware Before Software

Now that the Zune is available in quantity in the US, it's been no secret that Microsoft is heading to Canada next.  This is expected to happen in Spring of this year.  However, part of the Zune package, namely the "social experience" will not be arriving with the player. It's hinted at in this story from Canada.com:

Microsoft showed off its version two Zune portable media player, announcing it will be available in Canada this spring with similar prices as Apple iPod models. But its online song-buying site and Zune Social network will not be available for Canadians until even "later in 2008," according to Elana Zur, Zune product manager for Microsoft Canada.

"We really wanted to focus our resources on getting the U.S. experience right before bringing it into other markets," said Zur. "You can see the progress from version one to version two that was made there with those learnings."

Zur said the further delay on the online Canadian Zune Marketplace has much to do with organizing Canadian media content.

Does that mean they won't be getting the Zune Marketplace?  Will there be a country specific Canadian Zune Marketplace?  Will it work the same except for the currency?  Is a Zune still a Zune without the Marketplace?

Comments

[Lee]

Is a Zune a Zune without its Marketplace? Well, a brick is still a brick, even without mortar to hold it together. So yah, the Zune brick will still be a Zune.

And will still be outsold by Creative and Apple.