Pachter: MS handheld not in the foreseeable future

Would have to take on the iPhone and PSP in order to succeed.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes there is too much competition in the handheld space for the software giant to launch a handheld gaming platform in the foreseeable future.

Recently, Microsoft Corporate VP Shane Kim confirmed that it was a matter of "when" rather than if the company will release a handheld.

According to Pachter, Microsoft's "when" will not be any time soon.

"I don't see Microsoft as being competitive in handheld gaming. The Zune has been a commercial disaster, and their core Xbox consumer is too old to carry a handheld gaming device," he told NOWGamer.com

He added: "The DS skews very young, the iPhone very old, and the PSP in between. Microsoft would have to take the PSP and the iPhone on in order to succeed. I don't see this happening in the foreseeable future."

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