``It`s unclear whether such gadgets will carry the Xbox brand name or some other name, and whether the software that may become available to outsiders will be Xbox or Xbox 360.

Microsoft plans to start selling its next-generation game machine Xbox 360 later this year while Sony plans to introduce the PlayStation 3 next spring.

The Redmond, Wash.-based firm hopes the head start will cut into Sony`s lead in the market, and has been trying to appeal to Japanese consumers by attracting top Japanese designers to create games for Xbox 360.

Sony`s PlayStation 2 controls more than half the world`s video game market, while Xbox and Nintendo Co.`s GameCube split the rest.``

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Gates wants a larger market share, but has no portable version. I just bought my son the newest SONY PSP portable game player...which looks remarkably like the handheld video products we see popping up.

Could one download games onto a new portable player via a kiosk? Is that a likely model? For kids in that prime demographic it is doable.

What is the content to be downloaded at a kiosk? Movies or games? All very possible scenarios...