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Patent suggests Windows Phone slider

Xperia Play-style gaming controls spotted.

A new patent suggests Microsoft is working on a new Windows Phone model that features gaming controls.

The patent, filed with the USPTO and spotted by Mobile Mag (via SPOnG), shows designs for a slider phone similar to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

The patent reveals an empty slot in the slide-out portion of the phone in which you can place various parts. According to the patent image, below, one of these is a gaming controller, which includes face buttons and what looks like a thumb nub.

The Xperia Play, the word's first PlayStation Certified smartphone, launched in April. It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features a number of PS one Classics and exclusive titles.

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