The recently acquired jkontherun has within its new Om Malik walls a fresh new rumor from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous, so we'll just call the reader "Rumors O'Plenty".  Rumors O'Plenty says that Microsoft is indeed working on a Zune phone right now, this very moment.  First let me state that if this is indeed true, then I can and have every right to call a few Microsoft CEO's and what not, bold faced lairs.  I can do this because on numerous occasions, different department heads over in Redmond have been quoted as saying "there are no plans for a Zune phone."  

But that hasn't stopped Rumors O'Plenty from laying out a few specs on the phone that Steve Ballmer would make.  The OS would be a variant of Windows 07 with its key functions made functional by Windows Live.  The phone would also be a multi-touch touchscreen device, (duh).

Of course this and every other ZunePhone rumor centers around the success of the iPhone and the failure of the Zune to take the iPod's place in the market.  Hell, it doesn't even compete. But what it neglects to center around is the fact that if this rumor, this desire by so many Redmond fans holds water, there must be a concession that Microsoft doesn't have a creative bone left in its body.  All they can do is react to what Apple succeeds with.  And I really don't think Microsoft fanboys want to admit that, so I think it would be a good idea to let this one go until Microsoft makes an official announcement.  Which of course won't change the aforementioned fact.

And if Microsoft does make a ZunePhone, what will that do to all the manufactures who create phones for Windows Mobile.  Is HTC going to want to compete with a Windows Mobile Phone made by Microsoft?  I doubt it, in fact I don't think they would be too happy about such a device at all.  Nor would Palm, Samsung, Motorola and the rest.  Seems to me Microsoft would be cutting off its own nose to spite it's iPhone/iPod shamed faced, by introducing a device that would essentially end the need to by a WinMob Phone from any other manufacture. 

Really, doesn't that seem silly?

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