Make Money from Microsoft Socializing With Zune Update

Users of the portable media player can now download friends' nine most recently played songs, as well as nine tunes flagged as favorites.

Microsoft tried to narrow the gap against Apple with the release of new technology that enables Zune users to share more of their music libraries with friends.
The latest update to the Zune software that synchronizes the player with a person's music library on the PC and Microsoft's online store reflects how Microsoft is hoping to grab market share from the Apple iPod by encouraging Zune users to build online social networks. Microsoft last November launched a music community Web site called Zune Social, where users could browse each other's playlists and share opinions on songs and bands.

The upgrade takes the community element a bit further by letting Zune users download each other's nine most recently played songs, as well as nine tunes flagged as favorites. The playlists are updated each time a person connects their Zune to the PC.

In order for people to trade tunes, they have to subscribe to Microsoft's mobile music service called Zune Pass. The service costs $14.99 a month and lets subscribers download onto their Zunes any of the 3.5 million songs in Microsoft's library.