Zune users can’t share all songs

Microsoft Corp.’s Zune music and video player, intended as a rival to Apple Inc.’s market-dominating iPod, can’t share some songs, potentially eroding a key advantage over the iPod.

Microsoft on Monday blamed the difficulty on the fact that “wireless sharing is a new experience and its implementation is in a version 1.0 stage.” The company denied reports that record companies such as Universal Music Group were preventing sharing of some artists.

Microsoft in November introduced the Zune, touting its ability to wirelessly share songs and playlists for three plays or three days, a feature the iPod doesn’t have. The Redmond, Wash.-based company has sold hundreds of thousands of Zune players since its release; Apple sold 21.1 million iPods in the fourth quarter.