Microsoft Corp. may be preparing a rather significant launch of new Zune multimedia devices. The timeline is rather suitable for big product launches as during holidays a lot of people make more impulsive purchases. Currently there are rumours about portable digital media player with high-definition video playback capability as well as Zune mobile phone.

There is information that Microsoft is currently considering one of the three ad companies for a launch campaign of its project code-named Pink [and Purple], which is believed to be Zune software and services for mobile phones running Windows Mobile operating system. That said, Pink and Purple can easily be a Zune-branded cell phone, or an environment allowing Windows Mobile-based phones to listen, purchase, share and manage music files. The market, however, is not full of multimedia-oriented Windows handsets , hence, a Zune-branded cell phone is still a possibility.

Meanwhile, a web-site has published photos of what is claimed to be Zune HD portable digital media player. There are no technical specs and the pictures in general hardly give a lot of details even about the look. However, since many manufacturers now have music players with touch-sensitive screens, it would be logical for Microsoft to have one as well.

Earlier this year Microsoft confirmed intention to release “new Zunes before the 2009 holiday season” and that those music players would “be a surprising step up from the current models”, hence, a new Zune-branded music player is completely possible. On the other hand, a “surprising step” from the available models would be an introduction of a Zune phone.

Microsoft did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: Microsoft, Zune