While iPhone (News - Alert), BlackBerry and Android phones are competing for urbanites and business types, Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 Series just might make name for itself in a pretty lucrative, unique market niche: Gamers.  

 

After all, this will be the first time (according to Microsoft (News - Alert)) that a phone series has integrated the XBOX LIVE games and Zune music/video experience (which is ideal for player fanatics who don’t want to be stuck on their couches playing Madden NFL).

 

Need to see more? Check out this YouTube (News - Alert) video of Microsoft exec Eric Rudder demonstrating a play of Indiana Jones at last week’s TechEd Middle East show in Dubai.

 

Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer (News - Alert) unveiled the Windows Phone 7 Series at last month’s Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) 2010 show in Barcelona. With this new platform, Microsoft said it offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications.

 

Partners have already started building phones; customers will be able to purchase the first phones in stores by holiday 2010.