Microsoft, the world’s leading producer of software, will release one product under the Zune name in 2006, and it will continue to invest “hundreds of millions” of dollars over the next few years in an attempt to overthrow Apple Computer and its mega-popular iPod and steal away the title of king of the digital music player and download space, The Wall Street Journal reports.The news comes from Robbie Bach, president of the Redmond, Wash.-based company’s entertainment division, according to the Journal. Bach spoke at Microsoft’s yearly get-together with financial analysts, the Journal reports.After releasing one Zune product this year, Microsoft will next year release additional Zune offerings and “broaden the product lines over time,” Bach said, according to the Journal. Microsoft Zune Last Friday, following weeks of speculation, Microsoft confirmed that it would mount an offense against Apple, and that the brand name of the new iPod challenger would be Zune. In the past, Microsoft has worked with a handful of digital music player makers and Web download service operators on aspects of their products, but according to Bach, Microsoft will oversee all stages of the Zune products’ development, the Journal reports.“Microsoft will be involved in the hardware and software and the service,” Bach said, according to the Journal. Bach was careful to specify that Zune is no short-term initiative, the Journal reports.“This is something that is going to be a three-, four-, five-year investment,” Bach said, according to the Journal.Bach was hired by Microsoft last year to help the software giant work its way into additional entertainment spaces, including the music and film industries, according to the Journal. Bach said an essential part of Microsoft’s approach to Zune will be to connect it in various ways to other Microsoft products, including its Xbox gaming system and personal PC software, the Journal reports.Related Links: Microsoft ‘Argo’ iPod Challenger Revealed Microsoft iPod Challenger Due by Holiday SeasonThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature Red Hat embraces hybrid cloud for internal IT The maker of OpenShift has leveraged its own open container offering to migrate business-critical apps to AWS as part of a strategy to move beyond facilitating hybrid cloud for others and capitalize on the model for itself. By Paula Rooney May 29, 2023 5 mins CIO 100 Technology Industry Hybrid Cloud feature 10 most popular IT certifications for 2023 Certifications are a great way to show employers you have the right IT skills and specializations for the job. These 10 certs are the ones IT pros are most likely to pursue, according to data from Dice. By Sarah K. White May 26, 2023 8 mins Certifications Careers interview Stepping up to the challenge of a global conglomerate CIO role Dr. Amrut Urkude became CIO of Reliance Polyester after his company was acquired by Reliance Industries. He discusses challenges IT leaders face while transitioning from a small company to a large multinational enterprise, and how to overcome them. By Yashvendra Singh May 26, 2023 7 mins Digital Transformation Careers brandpost With the new financial year looming, now is a good time to review your Microsoft 365 licenses By Veronica Lew May 25, 2023 5 mins Lenovo Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe