Microsoft considering buying Shoutcast and Winamp-Shoutcast,Winamp, Microsoft, AOL-IT information Microsoft is considering buying Shoutcast and Winamp

AOL (United States online) announced yesterday, the company will close its Winamp music service. Winamp is one for Windows and Android devices, such as Media Player software from AOL in 1999 with a price of 80 million dollars came from the acquisition of Nullsoft. But at the same time, the media reported, AOL is negotiating with Microsoft, agreed to sell Winamp and Shoutcast has a separate one for music services for Microsoft-related matters. Developed by Nullsoft Shoutcast is a streaming service. Sources said that AOL plans to announce next week some time off the Shoutcast service.

Commenting on the rumors, AOL has declined to comment, while Microsoft also did not comment. According to people familiar with the situation said news that AOL currently have not yet reached a deal with Microsoft to reach a final agreement, the two sides have to negotiate on trade issues.

When AOL announced yesterday that it will close Winamp, no mention of Shoutcast related matters.

From AOL in this regard, why close Winamp and AOL Shoutcast, very clear why, sell the two services is of great significance for AOL. Previously, AOL in terms of these two services have devoted a lot of energy and effort, especially in the digital music companies to win over the audience and occasion of the innovative technology. However, AOL in this regard is having a lot of trouble. In addition to these two major services, AOL also closed or sold other music assets, thereby putting more resources into Web publishing (AOL owns TechCrunch, Engadget, the Huffington Post and other most blog sites) and media advertising network operations and focus more on advertising technology, issued to increase advertising capabilities. Of course, AOL Music service can be part of an integrated business, however, these music services is a lack of substantial financial support, lack of sufficient foreign strategic investment.

From Microsoft's perspective, Microsoft has its own difficulties in music products, but Microsoft has recently been investing heavily in Xbox Music business, this service primarily in the Xbox 360,Windows8, Windows RT,Windows Phone 8, iOS and Android on a variety of devices, such as running, and providing free and ad-supported streaming music, music subscription services such as music downloads.

Winamp and Shoutcast can be integrated into Microsoft's services, is still to be seen. Currently Winamp and Shoutcast has become a portal platform with more than more than 50,000 radio stations, Microsoft can take advantage of this, will consolidate these advantages to Xbox Music platform, this is, after all, Microsoft's current lack of Microsoft could also increase their own personal radio features similar to Pandora style.

微软考虑收购Shoutcast和Winamp - Shoutcast,Winamp,微软,AOL - IT资讯
微软考虑收购Shoutcast和Winamp

AOL（美国在线）昨天宣布，该公司将关闭旗下音乐服务Winamp。Winamp是一款针对Windows和Android等设备的媒体播放软件，由AOL在1999年以8000万美元的价格从Nullsoft之手并购而来。但与此同时，媒体又有消息称，AOL正在与微软谈判，以商定将Winamp及旗下另一款音乐服务Shoutcast出售给微软的相关事宜。Shoutcast也是一款由Nullsoft开发的媒体流服务。消息人士透露称，AOL计划宣布在下周某一时间关闭Shoutcast服务。

对于上述传闻，AOL方面一直拒绝置评，而微软也未就此发表评论。据知情人士透露的消息称，目前AOL与微软还未就交易事宜达成最终协议，双方仍在就交易价格问题进行谈判。

AOL昨天在宣布将关闭Winamp时，并未提及Shoutcast相关的事宜。

从AOL这方面来看，AOL为何关闭Winamp和Shoutcast，原因非常清楚，出售这两个服务对AOL而言也有着重要意义。此前，AOL在这两大服务方面倾注了大量的精力和心血，特别是在各大数字音乐公司都在拉拢听众和不断创新技术之际。不过，AOL目前在此方面却遇到了困难。除这两大服务之外，AOL还关闭或抛售了其它一些音乐资产，以此将更多的资源整合到网络发行方面（AOL目前拥有TechCrunch、Engadget、《赫芬顿邮报》以及其它多数博客网站）和媒体广告网络运营方面，并将更多的重点放在广告技术方面，以此提高广告发行能力。当然，对AOL而言，音乐服务可以成为综合业务的一部分，不过，这些音乐服务却缺乏大量的资金支持，也缺乏足够的外来战略投资。

从微软的角度来看，微软公司在音乐产品方面有自己的困难，不过，微软最近已经大力投资Xbox Music业务，此服务主要在Xbox 360、Windows8、Windows RT、Windows Phone 8、iOS和Android等多种设备上运行，而且提供免费的广告支持的流音乐、音乐订阅和音乐下载等服务。

Winamp和Shoutcast能否融入微软的这些服务，目前还需拭目以待。目前Winamp和Shoutcast已经成为了一个拥有5万多电台的门户平台，微软可以利用好这一点，将这些优势整合到Xbox Music平台上，毕竟这也是微软目前的欠缺，这样微软也可以增加自己类似于Pandora风格的个人电台功能。