Microsoft news: New social network friendly phone from Microsoft

Software giant Microsoft will is unveiling a new mobile phone product line that is specially geared toward social networking users today. Coming on the heels of its much acclaimed Windows Phone 7 Series initiative, these phones are being marketed to younger people as part of an initiative with Verizon Wireless

The new phones – codenamed Turtle and Pure – are targeted at young social network users. They’re expected to include social media services as well as the Zune music service, and feature keyboards to simplify messaging.

The phones are believed to have been designed by Danger, which makes the T-Mobile Sidekick phone, and will be manufactured by Sharp. In the US, they’re expected to run on the Verizon Wireless network.

The Pink phone comes in two form factors: a clam style phone that opens with a twisting action and a candy bar shaped phone: both come in a variety of bright colors. The phones themselves have nicknames, “Pure” and “Turtle” although it’s unclear if these names will stick with the released products. You will see that the style of the phone looks quite young: perhaps too young (and girlish). For the phone to look girlish doesn’t mean anything bad. After all, statistics show a growing surplus of females in the younger generations, so they are primed to become a dominant market force.

Another thing to remember is that this phone does not run Windows Phone 7 Series, a mobile operating system due to be released in time for end of year shopping. Microsoft Pink does, however, have some elements that resemble Windows Phone 7 Series, so if you want to get a hint about what the ultimate Microsoft smart phone will look like, check out the Pink.

Besides built-in social networking functionality that makes it easy for users to stay connected while on the go, the Pink series phones feature connectivity with Microsoft’s Zune music service, making it easy to purchase and download music and videos. The phone has built in GPS and location-based applications that have proven appeal to younger people.

The Pink phones are said to be manufactured by Sharp, although they will not bear Sharp’s name on them. The product is expected to be branded with both Microsoft and Verizon logos. The expected cost of the phones is between $100 and $150. The product launch is scheduled for today April 12, 2010 in San Francisco.

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