After creating a digital music player, Microsoft said that the next thing to come is a cellular phone oriented on music listeners, a possibly rival for Motorola Rokr as well as rumoured phone from Apple. The phone will be a part of Zune project, which means that the device primary functionality is digital media.

“A Zune phone is definitely part of the future of this brand,” Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Zune, told reporters at a news conference, according to a report by Reuters news-agency.

No specifications of the device were announced, just like there are no details available concerning availability timeframes. However, given that the product have already been confirmed and the fact that just several months passed between the first unofficial data concerning Microsoft Zune emerged and the official announcement took place, Zune mobile phone can be expected in the foreseeable future.

Apple’s and Microsoft’s entrance to the market of cell phones with models which primary functionality is entertainment, will mean that for many people mobile phones have turned from a communication into entertainment device. Nevertheless, market prospects of such products are not completely clear, as the vast majority of cell phones are sold by operators, many of whom order specially-tailored models from their partners and who also usually subsidy low-cost phone models.

Microsoft Zune player itself with 30GB hard disk drive will start to emerge for sale on November, 14, 2006, for $299.