Like other viral marketing tactics before it (e.g. ilovebees.com, ourcolony.net), Microsoft's Origami Project—a site set up by MS but that doesn't bear the company name—could be dropping hints on an upcoming handheld device. The site cryptically asks, "Do you know me? Do you know what I can do? And where I can go? Or how I can change your life?"

It then says, "You will" and promises the viewer that he/she will learn more on March 2, 2006. Interestingly, March 2 happens to be this Thursday, the same day that certain analysts have been invited out to Microsoft's Redmond campus to be briefed on a new technology.

"It's a 'technology' we've been invited to see," Richard Doherty, the president of Envisioneering, a consumer electronics consulting firm told The New York Times. "That could be all kinds of things. But a device that is near to shipping would be surprising. If Microsoft was working with any of the major chip makers on a new device, it would be a long shot that that piece of information would not slip out until the product was almost ready."

Furthermore, what appears to be a promotional video for a Microsoft handheld PC tablet-like device (with touchscreen & stylus) surfaced on the site of video production firm Digital Kitchen. The video, which has since been taken down, clearly shows a device labeled "Origami" being used by people to surf the web, listen to music, use Windows Media Center type capabilities, edit photos, utilize GPS functions and even play video games. In fact, one part of the video shows Halo playing on the device, indicating that "Origami" could very well be the "Xboy" handheld that has been rumored for so long. Thanks to YouTube.com, you should still be able to catch the video here.

Apparently that video is fairly old, however. A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed to Silicon.com that the "Origami" device is for real, but that the video does not represent the final result of the project. "While Origami is a concept we've been working on with partners, please know that the video seen on Digital Kitchen's web site is a year old and represents our initial exploration into this form factor, including possible uses and scenarios," she said.

A BusinessWeek article from late January also suggested that Microsoft was preparing to enter the portable business, but the company has since said that the article was nothing but speculation. Having seen the promotional video, though, that speculation seems all the more real now.