位於西雅圖的微軟園區，剛於美國時間十月十五日宣布今年秋天即將發表XboxMusic。有鑑於先前推出Zune系列的失敗經驗，微軟此次將利用旗下Windows和Xbox的品牌優勢，正式進軍線上音樂市場，與Apple的iTunes和iPod相抗衡。

進入本文前，請先想想以下單字：

A. 必備、先決條件
B. 3C產品
C. 遊戲機

Microsoft plans to announce a service called Xbox Music that will offer access to a global catalog of about 30 million songs. The service will let consumers listen free to any song on computers and tablets running the latest version of its Windows software, as well as on the Xbox console.

微軟正計畫推出一項全新的線上音樂服務：XboxMusic，此線上音樂系統擁有全球約三千萬首歌曲的播放目錄。不管是從Windows最新作業系統的電腦、還是Xbox主機，XboxMusic都可提供消費者線上免費試聽的服務。

The service is part of a broad set of bets Microsoft is making this fall to help regain ground it has lost to competitors, especially Apple and Google. In addition to Window 8, a major new version of its (1)flagship operating system that will start shipping Oct. 26, the company is close to releasing a new version of its Windows Phone operating system for mobile phones and its first Microsoft-designed computer, a tablet device called Surface.

這項服務是微軟今年秋天計畫來重振品牌聲望的一大賣點，期望可以再次與Apple和Google一較高下。Windows8作業系統之外，被微軟視為最新最好的作業系統將在10/26正式上市：WindowsPhone的最新作業系統即將開賣，此新版本將可施用於手機和第一批微軟設計的平板電腦：Surface。

In an aggressive push to persuade lots of people to use the service, Microsoft will package the software for Xbox Music with Windows 8. The arrangement could awaken antitrust concerns about Microsoft’s use of Windows to gain toeholds in new markets.

大動作宣傳之下，微軟將用Windows8作業系統來包裝XboxMusic的軟體。這樣的安排預計可破除大眾對於微軟Windows8的疑慮，並使微軟重新立足於市場上。

Microsoft’s (2)do-over in the market is a sign of how a strong music service has come to be seen as a (A)prerequisite for any serious player in the gadget business, Apple first showed the way with that strategy by making it simple to buy songs from the iTunes Store, helping it sell more iPods.

微軟此次重新進軍線上音樂市場，顯示了音樂服務在3C產品業中必須是先決條件的一面。Apple是首先注意到這點，並用此策略讓消費者可以簡單的步驟從iTunes上購買歌曲，而這讓蘋果賣出了更多支iPod。

Analysts say the success of Xbox Music will depend on far more than whether the service is any good, since the strategy is to have it enhance the appeal of Microsoft-powered (B)gadgets that have much broader functions. The first smartphones on which the service will be available are those running a new version of Microsoft’s mobile operating system, Windows Phone, which has struggled to gain traction.

市場分析師評估，XboxMusic成功與否不是取決於其音樂服務夠不夠好，微軟的策略本是為了強化微軟作業系統的3C產品。也就是說，微軟想讓其現有產品能夠發揮更多更廣的功能。預計，第一批能夠使用XboxMusic的智慧型手機將是微軟作業系統的Windows Phone，而現階段Windows Phone在市場上還不是太受矚目。

Microsoft has a far stronger position in the living room with the Xbox, having sold more than 67 million consoles to date. The chief executives in Microsoft have (3)made it a priority to transform the Xbox from a (C)gaming device into an all-purpose hub for video and other forms of entertainment. Xbox在居家娛樂這一塊消費市場上持有及大的佔有率，且截至目前為止，全球已銷售出六千七百萬台Xbox遊戲機台。微軟高層已決議利用此優勢來優先推行XboxMusic，讓Xbox能從遊戲機轉型成多功能的影音娛樂。

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