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With rumors abounding about the Apple 'iSlate' and the Google slate or cloudbook, it's only right that the Microsoft 'Pink' rears its head again. A research note from analyst firm Jefferies suggests that Microsoft is poised to launch an own-branded handset by the end of March, a move that has been half-expected for several years.

This would probably draw on work done at Danger, the mobile vendor that Microsoft acquired two years ago, but the Windows giant is not looking to become a hardware manufacturer. Instead, it will follow in Google's Nexus One footsteps and create a reference design that can be adopted by licensees, plus announcing at least one implementation of that design, together with a phone partner.

Katherine Egbert of Jefferies says Microsoft is currently working with an unnamed vendor to get its first Windows branded 'Pink' device out of the door. Her client note, reported on AllThingsD, says: "Our recent industry checks indicate Microsoft will be debuting its own phone sometime in the next two months." That would indicate a launch either at Mobile World Congress next month in Barcelona, or at CTIA in Las Vegas in March.

Microsoft has promised major announcements at MWC, but has been evasive about assumptions that these would revolve around Windows Mobile 7. However, there would be little point launching a WinMo design that did not showcase the new release of the OS, which is widely seen as Microsoft's last chance to make a big impact on smartphones.

LG has already hinted that it would launch a WinMo 7 phone this year, despite rumors that the already postponed OS will not appear until 2011. LG would be a logical manufacturing partner for Pink given its strong commitment to WinMo and its willingness to work with a wide range of partners, even those seen as outsiders in mobile (think the Intel-based GW990 superphone).

According to Egbert, the Pink would draw on the user experience of the Danger Sidekick, which was pioneering in the mobile web space, and the design and integrated media platform of the Zune music player. It would probably feature a 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video (standard for smartphones, though low end for LG), and would follow the integrated content/store concept made famous by Apple iPod and now Amazon Kindle. A music purchasing scheme would be offered, and probably an unlimited subscription service too, somewhat like Nokia's Comes With Music.

Like Apple with iSlate, the aim would be to look beyond the market share battle in conventional phones to the 'third screen' - helping to create and define the new markets for cloud devices and home media hubs, leveraging Microsoft's PC base and the Xbox games console. In these emerging segments, Microsoft will want Windows to have a key role, even if WinMo's future on standard smartphones remains dubious - and it will be taking on the usual rivals, Apple and Google. The best partner in this endeavor would be Nokia, which also needs to fend off these two challengers, but while the mighty Finn has worked more closely with Microsoft in recent years, it would be unlikely to add WinMo to its strategy.

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