Zune software update hints at "Zune Phone"

Microsoft enthusiast and blogger Long Zheng has been busy today, Australia day, looking over the latest Zune drivers.

Microsoft kicked off a maintenance period  today, prohibiting customers from renting and purchasing content for up to 24 hours. During the maintenace window Microsoft release a Zune 4.2 software update.

Zheng notes that the Zune driver has been updated and the installer INF now includes the following lines:

[Microsoft.NTx86]
%Zune.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\MS_COMP_MTPZ
%Zune.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0710
%Zune.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_063E
%Phone.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0640
%Phone.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0641
%Phone.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZUSB, USB\VID_045E&PID_0642
%ZuneIp.DeviceDesc% = ZuneMTPZIP, umb\urn:microsoft-com:device:mtpz:1

; Localizable strings
Msft = “Microsoft”
Zune.DeviceDesc = “Zune”
…
Phone.DeviceDesc = “Phone”

In September 2009, photos of two phones named 'Turtle' and 'Pure' leaked and were reportedly part of Microsoft's "Project Pink" to encorporate Zune features into a Phone.

The timining is apt given that Microsoft is widely expected to detail its Windows Mobile 7 plans next month at the World Mobile Congress (WMC) conference in Barcelona. Neowin will be live from WMC so stay tuned for more details.

Image Credit: Long Zheng - istartedsomething