Microsoft Stings iPods In New Ads

In new ads for Zune, Microsoft claims that it costs $30,000 to fill a 120GB iPod using iTunes.

In its new ads for its Zune music player, Microsoft is catching people where they’re very sensitive at the moment – in the wallet. The company claims that filling the latest 120GB version of its big rival, the iPod, would cost $30,000 if the music was purchased through iTunes.

As an alternative, Microsoft is plugging its $14.99 music rental system, which it claims is much cheaper. However, the Zune has yet to really dent the popularity of the almost ubiquitous iPod. The ad, which states, “What about the capacity of their bank account? At a buck a song they’ll run out of money way before they run out of space,” might seem effective, but it’s also a little misleading.

It assumes the user owns no music to transfer, and that every song is purchased individually, rather than by album.

The ads have surfaced just as rumors of a Zune phone have been resurrected.