Winamp might not die after all as latest reports indicate that Microsoft is already in talks with AOL to strike a deal that will involve Winamp and its adjacent services including Shoutcast media streaming service.
According to a report on TechCrunch, which cites unnamed sources, Microsoft and AOL are already in talks for a potential deal that will be announced before December 20 – the date when Winamp is set for an official culling. The same source has also claimed that AOL will be retiring Shoutcast media streaming service as well and the deal may involve sale of Shoutcase and other similar services.
It is particularly difficult to reason out Microsoft’s perspective here, if the report is at all true, considering that Redmond is already spending heavily behind its Xbox Music service. Microsoft has broadened the availability of its Xbox Music service in recent years by making it available for Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Phone, iOS, and Xbox.
Winamp’s survival would mean a lot to millions of users who are still using the 15 year old media player, but it doesn’t really make a whole lot of difference for Microsoft as it has had a bad experience with music services – the best example being Zune.
