MS denials of own phone debunked

One of Microsoft's own phones was confirmed today through an FCC filing that was discovered late Friday. The Sharp PB10ZU is a direct match for the Microsoft Turtle and has its same squat QWERTY slider shape. It also appears to share the same CDMA support, Bluetooth, camera, Wi-Fi and center-mounted 3.5mm headphone jack.

No immediate clues have surfaced as to the release info or the software, though it's expected the phone will use Windows Phone 7 and draw heavily on its Zune-influenced interface.

Microsoft has repeatedly tried to deny any development of its own phone but is widely understood to have have been at least collaborating heavily on hardware design through Project Pink. The program has seen Microsoft use its acquisition of the Sidekick's designer, Danger, to produce a much more media- and social networking-friendly phone than existing Windows Mobile devices. Sharp was one of Danger's key hardware partners before the Microsoft takeover, and rumors have pointed to the Turtle and its sister phone the Pure carrying a "Microsoft+Sharp" label.

The Turtle and Pure aren't necessarily due to show at Mobile World Congress, where Microsoft's keynote is assumed to center mainly on the new OS. Actual devices might not be announced until another event at a later date, especially as the CDMA-based versions would only be destined for the US. [via Wireless Goodness]

By Electronista Staff

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industry, Microsoft, Windows Mobile, FCC, Sharp, mobile phones, Windows Phone