Microsoft Windows Mobile to Upgrade Music Features

Microsoft plans to upgrade its music capabilities on Windows Mobile.

Microsoft Corp said it will focus on improving the music features on its Windows Mobile operating system for smart phones.

"One thing that Apple has leveraged on is the music scenario, and I think that is something the operators and ourselves are partnering on, just to make sure that consumers can use live music in the best way," Andy Lees, senior VP of Microsoft&#39s Mobile Business Communication, said.

Lees said the mobile music market represents a huge opportunity since consumers bought 10 times more music-enabled cell phones than iPods. Another study forecast the market to hit $11 billion by 2011.

Lees did not go into specifics, but improvements will probably center around the mobile Windows Media Player. Some research suggests an over-the-air music store with partners.

Apple is clearly on top when it comes to playing music on a cell phone. Thanks to its experience with the iPod, the company has made the iPhone a breeze for mobile music. The iPhone also has the advantage of being tied to the market-leading iTunes music store.