Microsoft to make known Pink phone subsequent week

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SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is set to make known the long-awaited "Project Pink" phones early subsequent week, sources informed with the make a difference pronounced on Monday, as the world"s largest program association attempts to benefit traction in the flourishing marketplace for immature smartphone users.

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The mobile phones, to be sole by tip U.S. mobile user Verizon Wireless, are being targeted at complicated users of amicable network sites, according to sources. They will have a opposite name when the launch is strictly announced.

In photos leaked to a tech blog last month, the new phones crop up to be stylish, updated versions of Microsoft"s Sidekick device, that is renouned with the girl market.

The new phones, that expected won"t be on the marketplace until summer, are to be done by Sidekick manufacturer Sharp Corp, sources said.

Microsoft has sent invitations to media to attend an eventuality in San Francisco subsequent Monday, but declined to criticism further. A deputy of Verizon Wireless, a corner try in in between U.S. phone association Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group plc, additionally declined comment.

The new phone does not crop up to be a executive piece of Microsoft"s main bearing in the mobile phone market, that is centered on the revamp of the Windows program it licenses to handset makers, that will be accessible after this year.

Microsoft hopes the Windows Phone 7, launched with good pushing in February, will win behind share from BlackBerry builder Research in Motion Ltd and iPhone builder Apple Inc, and kick behind visitor Google Inc, that is creation belligerent with Android-powered phones and the own Nexus One.

Microsoft is losing share fast in the U.S. smartphone market, according to tech investigate organisation comScore, dropping 4 commission points to 15.1 percent in in between Nov and February.

Ahead of it are Apple, with 25.4 percent, and Research in Motion with 42.1 percent. Google is the fastest-growing rival, right away holding 9 percent of the market.

(Reporting by Bill Rigby and Sinead Carew; Editing by Bernard Orr)

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