Microsoft to Launch Windows Phone ‘Tango’ in China on March 21

Microsoft is all set to launch its Windows Phone 7.5 "Tango" in Beijing, China on March 21, 2012. Tango will integrate Tencent Weibo as its microblogging client. Tencent QQ Game Hall will serve as the gaming platform in lieu of Xbox LIVE.

China disallows the use of Twitter and Facebook, due to concerns with filtering and content controls. China also bans the Xbox LIVE service, along with the sale of console gaming systems throughout the mainland.

Microsoft is banking on the popularity of Tencent services in the region, which can help boost the Windows Phone 7 user base. As such, tight integration with local social networking services can help Microsoft gain inroads into this market currently dominated by Android and iOS.

Aside from social networking integration, the Tango update is also rumored to include video-calling, which is an offshoot of Microsoft's acquisition of Skype in 2011. There is question, though, whether this feature will likewise make it to the Chinese variant of Windows Phone 7.5.

Tango in China will also support mobile payment systems, including Alibaba's AliPay, Tencent's TenPay and even government-sanctioned Chinapay.