Windows Phone 7, Kinect, Xbox 360 Will Mark Microsofts Holiday Season

by Nicholas Kolakowski

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer demonstrates Windows Phone 7 for media and analysts. Microsoft hopes to regain market share in the mobile space, where it faces fierce competition from the likes of the Apple iPhone and Google Android devices.

Microsoft also hopes that Kinect, its hands-free controller for the Xbox 360, will prove to be a big hit this holiday season.

The HTC HD7 features a 4.3-inch multitouch screen and a kickstand. It’s just one of nine Windows Phone 7 smartphones scheduled to roll out in the next few months.

Microsoft’s Arc Touch Mouse will “flex” from flattened (for travel) to curved (to fit your hand, while working).

The Arc Touch Mouse features a super-sensitive touch strip in place of a roller wheel, along with three programmable tap “buttons.”

Microsoft is also offering more traditional mice, in a variety of colors and form factors.

Microsoft continues to push Bing, its search-engine. Newer features such as the “Entertainment” tab bring the Website more in line with traditional Web portals such as Yahoo.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is perhaps the main component of the company’s push into the entertainment space. Games such as the “Halo” franchise have helped turn the console from a financial loss to a revenue generator.

Microsoft and its manufacturing partners will push Windows 7 on a variety of laptop form factors for the holiday season. Since its October 2009 launch, some 175 million Windows 7 licenses have been sold.

Microsoft and those partners will continue to push desktop models, as well—particularly to hardcore gamers.