Source: CrunchGear.com

“This most likely means an iPhone owner can browse iTunes from their iPhone handset, preview songs and purchase them for playback on the device. This functionality was rumored to be included with the Zune from Microsoft, but we now know it’ll be missing at launch. Here, we have proof that Apple is taking the lead on this.”

CrunchGear has a post up with news that there’s an Apple recruiting ad out there, looking for a Mobile Marketing Manager for iTunes. This is obviously seen as further proof that an iPhone is coming soon (early next year?).

And the thinking is that an iPhone will let you purchase songs directly on the device – which is one of the major missing pieces in the initial Zune devices.

I’m sure when an iPhone launches it will be lovely to look at, but I’m not sure I want an iPhone or a Zune / Z-Phone / Zamboni (or whatever the inevitable Zune one will be called). I’m sure I’m in the boring minority here, but I’m not that worried about or enamored by the idea of my smartphone playing tunes all day long for me. I much prefer my smartphone to help me work more effectively / and stay in touch easily by mail / phone etc.

Sure, multimedia features are very nice on smartphones – but I don’t want one that is entertainer first, and not hugely capable in terms of applications and productivity features. That’s one step too far down the convergence road for me.

Interested to hear what others think – are you after an all-in-one smartphone / PDA / portable media player? Will the iPhone be it?

For more on the Apple jobposting and CrunchGear’s thoughts, go see:

Apple Hiring iMarketing iManager for iPhone iTunes

[tags]iPhone, Apple, iTunes, Zune[/tags]

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