Microsoft is holding a special event in San Francisco today where it's expected to launch its first self-branded phones from Project Pink, which should include the Pure and Turtle (possibly Kin One and Kin Two) for Verizon. Electronista will provide live coverage of the event with updates and photos after the story jump; updates are in reverse order, Eastern time.
A leak of a pair of internal inventory screens from Verizon reveal that the carrier will soon release two Microsoft-branded handsets as well as the Android-powered LG VS740. The Microsoft phones are called Kin One and Kin Two in the Verizon system, which may temporary names that will get official names later on, perhaps after an official unveiling of the Project Pink mobile operating system and associated smartphones scheduled for Monday afternoon.
SanDisk dropped a slight hint about the Microsoft Pure and Turtle phones today with a teaser about the storage. Without naming the devices, it said any releases would have microSDHC card slots and logically support SanDisk's storage. Spokespeople wouldn't provide further clues of their own.
An alleged inside tip backs suspicions that Microsoft's April 12th special event will launch the first phones from Microsoft's Project Pink. Both the Pure and Turtle should show at the San Francisco media gathering and will be the expected touchscreen sliders. A contact for CNET said they would launch on Verizon first and ship "within the month" after the event.
Microsoft signaled its possible readiness to unveil its first self-branded phones on Monday with a teaser for an event in San Francisco. The notice obtained by Engadget doesn't mention more than that "it's time to share" but uses the same typography as seen on the Pure and likely the Turtle, hinting that the phones under the mystery Project Pink banner are almost ready to be revealed. Prior leaks have had both phones shipping April 20th for Verizon, which would line up with an introduction the week before.
Still more leaks have surfaced that detail Microsoft's Pure and Turtle phones. Besides providing clearer shots that potentially show a simple and possibly colorful design for each, the new slip puts both the squat-looking Pure and conventional Turtle arriving on Verizon. Although supposedly rumored for a May or June release, Engadget now hears that they could be ready for a seemingly symbolic April 20th.
