A recently published Bloomberg.com article writes that as early as 2003 Microsoft considered a partnership with Apple but also considered making its own music player to rival the iPod.
The article mentions that Microsoft was unhappy with the products from manufacturers such as Dell and Creative and really needed a product to help leverage the Windows Media platform. The information comes from an email exchange between Jim Allchin and Amir Majidimehr.
The email started by Allchin which was titled "sucking on media players,'' also suggested that Majidimehr talk to Apple CEO Steve Jobs to discuss getting the iPod to work with Windows Media Player, to alleviate fear that the iPods success would "drive people away from Windows Media Player.''
"My goodness it's terrible,'' Allchin wrote about one of Creative's devices. "What I don't understand though is I was told the new Creative Labs device would be comparable to Apple. That is so not the case.''
Majidimehr replied "Now you feel our pain.''
The decision obviously never came to light as Microsoft released its own music player in November of 2006. Microsoft sold hundreds thousands of Zunes over the holiday period, Apple sold 21.1 million iPods.