Phone style contracts are “pivotal to our business”- Microsoft

Microsoft has been announcing plenty of schemes for consumers to buy the Xbox 360 for what are eventually higher prices, but offer more reasonable paying options, like their recent $99 Xbox 360 250 GB model.

Microsoft interactive entertainment unit general manager Matt Barlow has told the Wall Street Journal that these type of contracts are vital to the firm’s business- “This type of program is pivotal to our business,” he said, saying we will probably see more of this even in future Microsoft products.

Microsoft also went ahead and revealed that the Xbox 360 has indeed become much more than a gaming device. living up to their hefty words over the past few months, Microsoft even released a flashy infographic chart showing the 360’s evolution as not-just-a gaming machine.

“Back in June, we talked about how this is the year Xbox becomes the premium entertainment service for Microsoft,” said Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing officer for Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Division. “While our success with Xbox to date has been led by a box in the living room, we’re now reaching individuals in new and exciting ways across PCs, tablets and phones. Xbox will be a gateway to the best in movies, TV shows, music, sports, your favourite games and instant access to your friends, wherever you are.”

He continued: “We realize some may ask, ‘Why are all these apps called Xbox, isn’t Xbox just a game console?’ Mehdi continued. “For us the decision to have Xbox stand for our broad entertainment efforts was a simple one. It is a natural evolution of our consumer offering.

“Even as Xbox has become the number one game console in the world, and continued to deliver arguably the best line up of games in our history, we have seen the use of Xbox broaden to watching TV/movies and listening to music.”

He added: “Also, we live in a multi-device world. The millions of people enjoying entertainment on their Xbox are doing so within arm’s reach of another device. We believe your entertainment should travel seamlessly across devices, that devices should work together to make your entertainment more accessible and create entirely new experiences.

“We knew we needed a single name for all entertainment experiences from our company and nothing means entertainment at Microsoft more than Xbox.”