Microsoft fueled speculation on Friday after checks found that it had registered microsoft-sony.com and sony-microsoft.com. The two sites are empty and currently redirect to a Bing search. Neither side has either discussed the sites or hinted at a partnership anytime soon.
The reasons could be purely defense. As Sony’s closest rival in game consoles, Microsoft might be keen to get domains that speculators might use to discuss rumors. It could also be to dissuade talk of other collaborations.
A chance exists that Microsoft and Sony are working together more closely on a project, but the two are more often competitors outside of PCs. Apart from the PS3, Sony makes Android devices under the Sony Ericsson label and is using Android alone for its S1 and S2 tablets. Rumors have surfaced more than once of a Sony Ericsson Windows Phone but have yet to bear fruit. Sony Ericsson wasn’t listed as a launch partner for Microsoft during the latter’s MIX event and isn’t likely to ship anything this year.
