p2pnet news view | Mobiles:- Telephone: Converts voice and other sound signals for transmission and remote reception.

Not any more.

Now it’s a multi-purpose communications system which’ll do everything from send and retrieve messages to take the dog for a walk.

Almost.

The iPhone is arguably the best known, and now Microsoft apparently wants a piece of that market.

“We know little about the Zune 3 except that meetings have already begun involving the design team,” says ZuneScene, going on

The big question at hand is whether Zune will compete with the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Now that Google has thrown it’s hat in the ring with “android” and the iPhone seems popular, will Zune join the fray?

Some speculate that a Zune phone platform would cannibalize Windows Mobile. Forum member Teccom747 has come up with a possible design for the Zune 3. The images above show the same imaginary device in Zune mode and phone mode. Yes, it looks like an iPhone, but the Zune 30 looked a little like the iPod 30 so anything is possible. Teccom747 also came up with specs for the Zune 3 and a screenshot of the device inside the Zune software as well.

Now, “Microsoft is heating up the Zune advertising and is hinting at June for a ‘new product launch’,” says Neowin, going on:

“We’ve had the hints that a new Zune, namely the Zune HD, could be surfacing this year but an interesting twitter update from the Microsoft Office 2010 team points towards June being the month of the Zune.”

Microsoft, “could be hinting at Zune services for Windows Mobile which have long been rumored as codename ‘Pink’ combined with a rumored ‘Zune Phone’, “, it says adding:

“The software giant could also be hinting at new hardware. Either way we would bet this is to do with E3 which begins in early June. It’s a week before Apple’s WWDC and if Microsoft and Verizon have been planning a Zune Phone then a week before the new iPhone is a good time to announce it.”

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Neowin – Microsoft hints at June for new Zune, May 12, 2009