ABI research earlier today posted an online survey's results where 58% of potential music player buyers could prefer Zune. The hard to believe part is the percentage is the same for the iPod owners also that may switch to Zune...

Principal analyst Steve Wilson concluded: "iPod users don't display the same passionate loyalty to iPods that Macintosh users have historically shown for their Apple products." Only 15% of iPod owners said they were "not very likely" or "not at all likely" to choose Zune.

ABI's representative sample of 1725 online consumers (age 18 and older) was asked in October 2006 if they plan to buy an mp3 player in the next 12 months. Responders who gave an affirmative answer were provided a photo and description of the Microsoft Zune device before being asked about their likelihood to choose it over a competitive MP3 player. 58% of those identifying themselves as existing iPod owners and 59% of those who owned other brands said they would be "somewhat likely" or "extremely likely" to choose a Microsoft Zune player over an iPod or another brand of MP3 player.

How useful the Wifi will evolve, seems to be the main factor Zune can use to make a difference. The Xbox connectivity is also counted in the interesting Zune features by ABI.

According to vmunet.com, US consumers will buy 100 million MP3 players by 2011 . Some of those millions must be Zunes! 

Read the full ABI article here . What do you think about this ? Leave your comments below.