"Let's vertically integrate this new service we have little experience with for profit and as a funnel to our other product lines"
"Let's make a great streaming service that creates enough value for our customer that we remain profitable"
That said, they didn't execute well. Zune Music was too dependent on the Zune. Groove had no selling points outside the ms ecosystem.
> That said, they didn't execute well.
Generalizable to most things Microsoft is involved in.
If they instead spun off a group of engineers and allowed them to create a great streaming service with no restrictions or handcuffs because windows or office or IE or whatever is being pushed this month, and then use the platform as a value added for the service you would get much better result IMHO.
That would mean develop for every mobile OS + windows and osx as a minimum from the start, not as an afterthought. No windows live or whatever it is called now ( linkable if you want), etc. Things Microsoft would never approve.
> That said, they didn't execute well.
This has been the story of any number of MS product lines, unfortunately. Handhelds/smart devices, social media, streaming services, etc.
Microsoft is actually really good at recruiting research talent that spots the next trends emerging before they happen and coming up with compelling ideas/prototypes. They then proceed to trip over themselves during execution and while being first to market, being outcompeted by the second wave and coming in with a mediocre offering by the 3rd or 4th wave.
With Apple Music, I believe, it's available across all your Apple music supported devices.