Musiwave + Zune = Wireless Music Store?

The new Zune player's been getting a lot of props for its bigger, glass-protected screen and uber-navigable new touch pad, not to mention the increase in storage space and the smaller physical profile. But as long as it remains dry-docked in terms of content, I'll be unsatisfied. It's not just because the iPod Touch now includes wireless music purchases, but because the Zune needs to swagger up to the plate knowing its cup is packed as full with meat as possible - if it really wants to take on the iPod, Microsoft needs to come correct, and that means packing in at least as many features as the competition - or, ideally, outdoing the competition altogether.

As many have said before me, a wireless music store and easy, not-annoying song sharing between devices would go a long way to making the Zune viable - although with its new incarnation, the Zune isn't nearly as laughable as it once was. Still, that's not exactly working from a position of strength.

But now that Microsoft's trying to acquire French mobile music-provider Musiwave, that could change; Microsoft's admitted that it would splice together Musiwave's label connections and infrastructure with Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live. Since the new Zune can sync wirelessly but isn't a music store portal yet, it looks like the perfect time to make the Zune a little more complete.

Microsoft's Musiwave acquisition could lead to Zune wireless music store [Ars Technica]