Gadget Of The Week: The Hypothetical 'Zune Phone'

Given the fact that Ballmer's memo flat-out said that Microsoft would be appending the Apple "narrow but complete" design philosophy to phones as well as personal computing, this hypothetical phone is only hypothetical in technical terms.

And really, the Zune branding is the bit I'm most skeptical about, given the underwhelming position of the Zune in both consumer consciousness and critical review.

But the inevitability of a Windows Mobile 7 cell phone seems pretty clear, and like others I think there will be multiple handsets that offer a Windows Mobile 7 platform that all connect to Microsoft's online properties in one way or another, including the Zune Marketplace.

Touch screens, third-party manufacturers, and MobileMe replacements are all terms I expect to see tossed about, although Ballmer's talk of a complete experience without compromise is something that could change the playing field, if those words survive the translation from memo to actual product.

[Image credit: ZuneScene]