Microsoft could be planning a gaming phone

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Microsoft could be considering a gaming phone like Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play.

According to Kotaku, a patent that was first filed in 2010 and last week made public shows a smartphone with a slide-out design. The patent focuses on the slide-out part of the handset being interchangeable so it can either be a keyboard or a control pad useful for gaming.

We think a Microsoft gaming handset is a good idea. It's about time it used its Xbox brand more effectively. However, its Xbox integration will need to be better than it is at present on Windows Phone 7 to stop it from becoming a bit of a dud like Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play handset.

The Xperia Play has seen its price slashed across the board recently, partly because at its nearly £500 full price, it is a little too expensive for most gamers' tastes. µ