This image was lost some time after publication.

Microsoft wants to buy Musiwave, a company specializing in mobile music services. The deal, among other things, would lay the foundation for a Zune wireless store, matching Apple's iTunes Store for Wi-Fi that lets iPhone and iPod Touch users download songs over the air. This copycat move is just one more sign of what's wrong with Microsoft's Zune strategy. It can't settle on one — so it just winds up latching onto whatever is the hot topic of the day. Here's what Microsoft should be doing instead of copying Apple.

Microsoft's Facebook-inspired Zune Social interface wasn't a bad idea — it was just poorly implemented. (Honestly, limiting users to three plays from a wirelessly shared song? That may be enough to know if you hate something, but not if you actually want to buy an album.) Microsoft should beef up the Zune with some serious music-recommending algorithms. It could create some form of lending library so those without subscriptions can borrow tracks or albums from friends for an extended period of time. That could gain it some converts. Copying Apple? All that gets Microsoft is users who want the iPod, but lamer, later, and costlier.