It appears Microsoft is yet again following Apple’s lead. The software giant said today that it is aiming to get its multimedia software into mobile phones before it is beaten to the market by rivals like Apple. “Microsoft has quietly made preparations to make its media software available to chip and handset makers, enabling consumers to play music they have saved in the Windows Media format on their PCs on their handsets,” reports Reuters. “Microsoft will battle with Apple, which last month signed up Motorola to build in new cell phones a slimmed down version of the music player and piracy protection used in the iPod.”