Microsoft asks nicely, "Apple, will you open the iPod?"

Microsoft, about to release their online digital music store (in typical late-to-the-game form), has apparently asked Apple to open up the iPod to songs  purchased from their store. Yeah, they were rejected,
just like a certain other company in Washington State
was; looks like not even all their stock in Apple could get them to loosen their stranglehold on the iPod. Not that they really have to or anything, so are you really surprised? Could this mean that Microsoft is going to ask that
certain someone for advice on how to manage proper iPod support?