Microsoft has divided its Zune team into separate hardware and software groups, according to a report by CNet News.com's Ina Fried.

Microsoft VP Enrique Rodriguez, to whom the software and services group will now report, tells CNet that the move wasn't made in response to sluggish Zune hardware sales. But it's a notable move given the fact that the company has been looking to spread the Zune software and services to Windows Mobile and other devices. And it could conceivably make it easier for the Zune software and services to survive if the company ultimately shifts back out of the portable device business.

To be clear, the company has said repeatedly that it's dedicated to the Zune hardware and plans to keep fighting the iPod in that market.

Update, 10:30 a.m.: Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division, pointed out that the team working on the device software will continue working with the Zune hardware team. The Zune PC software and services team is what will be working in a separate group, alongside the Media Center and IPTV teams.

"We wanted all those people working on entertainment software on the PC in one place," Bach said, speaking with reporters after addressing the annual Blacks at Microsoft Minority Student Day in Redmond.

(CNet link via Ben Romano of the Seattle Times.)