Xbox 360 Could Be Compatible With Apple's IPod
05.17.05, 9:31 AM ET
forbes.com
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Goldman Sachs said Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) hinted that its upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console may be able to connect with competitor products such as the PSP from Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) and the iPod from Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ). Goldman said, "Microsoft also emphasized that networking and multiplayer interactive capability of Xbox 360, offering a free base layer version of [online gaming] Xbox Live (Silver version) free of charge to all Xbox 360 users." The research firm expects Microsoft will launch the Xbox 360 in North America, Europe and Japan simultaneously in November. Separately, Sony's next-generation console, the PlayStation 3 or PS3, will launch the PS3 in the spring of 2006, "although it is unclear whether this will be just in Japan or a worldwide launch date," Goldman said. Nintendo is expected to ship its newest gaming platform, the Revolution, by mid-calendar 2006. "This would give Microsoft a strong time-to-market advantage, a very important factor in this market (remember, the 18-month time to market Sony had in its PS2 versus the first-generation Xbox helped Sony cement its footing in the console market)," Goldman said. |
