Microsoft to unveil a new Windows Phone?

Rumors about the development of a Microsoft phone have been in the air for quite some time now. Some speculate it to be a custom hardware running a special version of Windows Mobile, while others claim it to be an iPhone killer Zune Phone.

With less than two weeks from the GSM Alliance Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, hints have again surfaced that Microsoft may make a big announcement regarding a mobile device that is powered by NVIDIA's Tegra mobile processor.

Engadget lined up a good number of rumors and has tried to come up with a logical explanation too. While most of the article is focused on past references, one important observation is that Mary Jo (of ZDNet) believes that the new announcement may be a specification for handset manufacturers, which may be Microsoft's strategy to tightly control the quality of Windows Mobile devices.

I on the other hand believe that every hardware specification does get at least one reference implementation, and that some handset specifications can't be a major announcement specifically when we know that Windows Mobile 7 would not be shipping anytime with or close to 2009.

While most are underplaying the fact that Microsoft may actually develop a cellphone, one shouldn't forget that we weren't also expecting the Xbox or the Zune either. Do share your thoughts about it here, and if Microsoft does come up with one phone, can it really be an iPhone Killer?