Microsoft Kinect : New Trademark Filing Raises Doubts About Additional Kin Tools

Earlier this week, Microsoft filed for trademark on the term ‘Kinect‘. The filing (PDF) has been done under the category “computer software, computer hardware, and computer peripherals“.

The filing is interesting coming close on the heels of the unveiling of Microsoft Kin – the much anticipated mobile phones from Microsoft. One of the primary selling points of Kin One and Kin Two is the emphasis on “social networking made easy“.

From that perspective, Kinect (which sounds more like connect) makes for an interesting terminology to trademark. Is Microsoft launching a Kin specific Zune marketplace? Do we get to see additional software tools making social “connecting” easier? I do not know. But it will be interesting to see what comes out of this.

What are your thoughts?