Microsoft Wants Share of MP3 Market (A Think)

The L.A.Times is reporting that Mircosoft will begin selling its own MP3 players. The article begins:

Two questions confront Microsoft Corp. as it prepares to launch its answer to Apple Computer Inc.'s hugely popular iPod.
First, how badly do the 79% of Americans who don't already own a portable digital media player want one?
And second, will they want one made by Microsoft?

According to the article, Micosoft has expertise in entering markets late and doing very well (Think the XBox). In fact the same executive team that initially brought out the X Box is now going to bring out Microsoft's MP3 player, called Zune. Microsoft also has the cash reserves to build name recognition for its new gadget.

Lesson Ideas:
1. Tell students to pretend that Microsoft has hired them to do some market research. Microsoft has asked them to conduct a market survey as to whether or not people they know would buy the Zune from Microsoft. First, students will have to figure out the questions that they want answered. Then they'll have to decide to whom they want to ask these questions. Next, they'll ask the questions. Finally, have them compile the questions into a product that is easy to read. For example, a set of graphs. You might want to post these results on a graph. You might ask another class to conduct a similar study. Then the different answers could be posted on a blog and the two classes could consider how the answers compare and why they compare as they do.
2. Tell students that Microsoft has hired them to develop a marketing campaign on behalf of the Zune. In groups of three to four, ask students to develop four proposals for the best way to market the Zune. After they have developed these ideas, reconvene the class and have the various groups share their ideas.
3. Ask students to develop an ad or a commercial for the Zune.
4. Ask students to select ten songs that they would place on an MP3 player if the leaders of our civilization asked them to identify ten songs that best represent our times, that would be passed down as a representation of our times, forever. Allow them to work in groups of two to three to develop this list.

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