Microsoft Yammer M&A jammer

[Elsha]

Microsoft MSFT +2.32% , or rather its public-relations agency, Waggener Edstrom, sent out invitations to the press and industry analysts for what is being called an “major” announcement on Monday. Instead of holding the event at headquarters in Redmond, Wash., or even a few miles away in Seattle, Microsoft has chosen to do whatever it’s doing in Los Angeles.

“The venue of L.A. is curious to us, and it might involve Microsoft’s media platform [including] Xbox, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8,” noted Rick Sherlund, of Nomura Securities, “Microsoft’s media strategy has been to collaborate with content and cable providers.’

One of the reports that have come out says Microsoft is more than borrowing from Apple AAPL +0.45% in marketing, but actually unveiling its own branded tablet for the Windows Mobile operating system. It also could be something that has the characteristics of the Xbox.

Among consumers, the Xbox 360 has been a solid hit. When Microsoft reported its fiscal third-quarter results in April, the company cited industry figures showing that the Xbox was the top-selling videogame console in the United States for the 15th month straight.