Microsoft Mimics Apple

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has decided to take the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) route to phone creation: blending a mobile device with its MP3 player.

Microsoft's new phone comes in the middle of iPhone success and Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android release.

Microsoft plans to release phones with the new software that works similar to the company's Zune media player in time for this year's holiday season. The software to look for is Windows Phone 7 Series.

This may be Microsoft's last chance to get their phone software up to par with Apple and Google before they lose in the flourishing internet advertisement market.