There is rampant speculation that the Zune interface for managing music will be coming to Windows Mobile, in particular with the release of Windows Mobile 7. Microsoft had placed job postings, Steve Ballmer has confirmed that the Zune interface will be ported to other devices including Windows Mobile, and the net has been abuzz with rumors. According to Pocket PC Central, users will be able to connect to the Zune Marketplace to download tracks and sync music, essentially replacing Windows Mobile Media Player as the default media application. However, with all these changes, is Windows Mobile consumer-friendly enough to take on the competition? Microsoft, like its formidable competitor Research in Motion, has been trying to go after both enterprise and consumer customers.

I hate to even mention it, but the advent of the iPhone has changed what people expect from a device. Like the iPod that came before it, Cupertino understood what is needed from a software standpoint, both in terms of the device's user interface and in the synchronization experience. Have one desktop program--iTunes--one device, and synchronize everything--music, contacts, calendar, all applications and programs, photos, movies, shows, and audiobooks. From leaked glimpses of Windows Mobile 7, Microsoft may have an admirable user interface, but if Windows Mobile 7 is to tack on the consumer space, Microsoft also needs a simple synchronization solution.

Many would argue that ActiveSync and the Device Manager on Vista does many of these features--you can sync media, contacts, calendars, notes, and documents--but the management of the device and program installation is lacking in this experience. With iTunes, you have a central repository of all applications that you have purchased. If you need to do a "hard reset" and completely wipe your device, you can just sync all the applications, or each individual app if you like, and have everything ready with little action by you, the end user. With Active Sync and Device Manager, if you installed the EXE version of the application to your desktop, you have to click each program and load them individually from desktop to handheld. Moreover, with CAB files, you have to transfer them to your device, and install them individually on your device. Hopefully, with the porting of the Zune Player, the Zune Marketplace will be updated to support application management on the desktop in addition to the fine media management that is already in place. Perhaps, also, it may be best to replace ActiveSync and Device Manager, making them obsolete and utilize the synchronization from the Zune desktop software.

In comparison, Google's Android operating system eliminated the synchronization process, only enabling wireless synchronization with your online Google account. For advanced users, this process sounds crazy, but for the average consumer, it takes a lot of the frustrations out of failed synchronization with connectivity problems on the desktop. There are very few of us for which ActiveSync has not failed at some point. Google's approach also takes the desktop-agnostic approach whereby you can still synchronize all your personal information no matter if you are using a PC, Mac, or Linux variant on your desktop.

For consumers to want to own a Windows Mobile device, customize it, "love" it and embrace the Windows Mobile brand experience as cultist Mac enthusiasts have embraced the iPhone, Microsoft needs to focus on the back end just as much as the experience on the device. Apple has done a lot right with the application management. Photo synchronization can be better with more options for scaled photo sizes (iTunes creates a default size for all photos synchronized). Microsoft could use a better photo management experience as well. Synchronization and device management are also integral part of the experience. For now, kudos to Microsoft for finally paying attention to Windows Mobile with the port of the Zune Player.