Many of you will have read about Microsofts rumored Ipod-like device. Personaly i'm not really interested in another Ipod as I believe its days are numbered. Mp3 players belong on smart mobile phones or UMPC's where you can connect to the internet and download/stream new music. However, when I read a little footnote comment/rumour on an Engadget posting about Microsoft wanting to launch a virtual mobile operator business using HTC phones, my ears pricked up.

HTC are almost the same company as VIA (family businesses) and we already know that VIA/HTC want to launch the 'OnDemand' media service and that VIA started calling UMPC's 'PC-Phones.' at the Via Technical forum in Taipei last month. We've also had an anonymous comment stating that HTC is indeed trying to get into the UMPC market. Is it possible that Microsoft are thinking about using the OnDemand platform for media distribution?

If Microsoft want to use the 'OnDemand' service then they will need to use VIA's chips (hardware encryption/decryption seems to be a core part of the OnDemand service) and that means building something like the DualCor UMPC device which VIA has been promoting heavly in its press releases this week.

Could all these businesses be getting together to start offering subsidised media devices/UMPC's on a virtual mobile operator network? I tipped this before and it still makes sense to me. The 300,-Euro UMPC on 24 month data contract with unlimited 1Mbps internet access and media download service for 30,-Euro per month is something I think I could find useful!

Steve / Chippy.