WiFiPod on the Way?

This makes me think there is some real validity to the rumors around a subscription plan for iTunes....

USI and Foxconn reportedly to make Wi-Fi iPod: "Apple plans to launch new iPods featuring Wi-Fi in the second half of 2007. Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) will produce the Wi-Fi modules and Foxconn will perform as the OEM system assembler, according to Taiwan portable music player component makers."

While it's certainly possible that the WiFi could just be so that users can buy and download directly to their iPod - it's far more interesting when can stream, share or download entire tracks on demand (like the Zing-powered Sansa Connect, MusicGremlin or Zune).

Sansa Connect: Zing not Zune (and others)

A few weeks ago I talked about how I thought Real should buy MusicGremlin and one-up Microsoft with their Zune. Well, it appears they are more than covered with the pending introduction of Sandisk's Sansa Connect (MSRP $249).

It is a Wi-Fi-pod based on Zing's media platform, and looks pretty slick. With Sandisk's relationship with Real, and there recent support for Real's DRM scheme (in addtion to PlaysForSure) - I'm sure there are lots of compelling download-to-device and sharing use cases in the works. Unfortunately, I missed this device at CES but I'm sure we will see a lot more about it in the coming weeks.

Also, AOL's Tegic division (who acquired WildSeed last year) showed off their wireless-enabled media platform and will be working with Chinese up-and-coming manufacturer, Haier, to bring that to market this year.

Finally, iRiver also announced a Wi-Fi player as well. I didn't see this one at the show either, but the renderings look pretty nice.

I should have had in my 2007 predictions.... "this will be the year where people besides Apple start to do devices right".

Real should buy MusicGremlin

Someone asked me the other day what I thought of MusicGremlin. Fact is, I think they've got a pretty killer little wifi media player grafted on to a fairly standard MusicNet-powered service. The devices does everything that Zune wants to do - but doesn't yet. A little company like MusicGremlin is never going to be able to compete on the same marketing scale as Apple, Microsoft or even Napster. Which is sad because I hate to see good products and services wither on the vine.

So, Real should take the cash from $700million dollar settlement from Microsoft and acquire the little company with the Zune-killer. Wouldn't that be sweet revenge for Real? Use Microsoft's money and MSN's ad placements (part of the settlement) to buy the device that does well the one thing Zune gets most hammered for.... direct-to-device dowloads and device-to-device sharing. They could also totally abandon Windows Media DRM (Plays For Sure) in favor of their own (like they have done with SanDisk).

Real could then subsidize the hardware when users commits to a year or more of Rhapsody-to-Go. I'm sure I'm not saying anything that others haven't said (or may be considering for all I know). But as a consumer, I'd buy it.

Tags: real+musicgremlin+rhapsody