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An interesting Microsoft rumor is being discussed by Jim Goldman on his TechCheck blog at CNBC.

He says that he has from a reliable source that Microsoft is going full steam ahead on the often rumored but never verified “ZunePhone” to try to compete directly with the iPhone. This source, unnamed of course, says that the new phone is codenamed Pink and will combine Zune functionality with the smartphone knowhow Microsoft took on board with the purchase of Danger. Basically Pink would be a Sidekick style device running Zune style software.

Says Goldman…

I’m hearing that a prototype of the new Pink could be unveiled as soon as the Consumer Electronics Show in January, but that it could be pushed back into a February release. Some reports suggest the phone could be released at the 3GSM conference and that a wide shipment release could be a year away. The idea, my source says, is to develop a product that offers true competition to Apple’s iPhone which continues to enjoy huge market momentum.

Of course this is followed by the normal Anti-Zune snarking, but there have certainly been indications that something is in the works as far as a ZunePhone. Ballmer’s recent comments that MS is planning on using the Zune software and user experience in “other mobile devices” for one, not to mention the fact that MS has yet to actually make use of the purchase of Danger, at least publically. Redmond spent an awful lot of money on that acquisition if they didn’t intend to make their own phone. Also, the various problems of the 3G iPhone has shown that even if Apple isn’t really vulnerable in the space, it has certainly been brought down a peg or two. On top of that, people are still waiting for an Android phone that lives up to the potential of the OS. Perhaps this is a window of opportunity for Microsoft.

I admit I really love the Zune software and think it could be used as the core of a classy, powerful “Superphone” like the iPhone and Android powered G-1, especially backed by the hip sort of hardware vibe the Sidekick devices always had. Also, The Social framework is already in place, rapidly maturing, and almost tailor made for a phone based community right out of the box combining the best features of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. Of course, I also have to wonder if Microsoft is willing to take on Apple in one of it’s core product lines again. While I love the Zune, it going up against the iPod has always been a point of fanboy and tech media derision. If a ZunePhone is coming soon, codenamed Pink or no, I hope Microsoft makes sure the product is ready for prime time before putting it on the market and that they design it to stand on it’s own, not to just get lost in the ever expanding sea of  wannabe “iPhone Killers”.