Microsoft Corp. has named Samsung Electronics its HDTV worldwide marketing partner for its next-generation Xbox high-definition (HD) gaming platform.

The companies claim the Xbox/Samsung HDTV combination allows the most advanced and realistic high-definition experience to gamers worldwide. To promote what they have termed the ?HD Era,? the companies plan to place over 25,000 Samsung HDTVs in Microsoft Xbox retail kiosk locations around the world.

A wide variety of visual display screen sizes and technology platforms from Samsung including LCD, plasma, micro display, DLP and slim fit HDTV CRTs are to be used with the new Xbox console in retail locations.

A 23-inch Samsung LCD TV is to be paired at retail stores with the new Xbox console as it allows a 12 millisecond pixel switching speed, to show intense action while and overcoming any motion artifacts.

In addition, the TV?s fixed pixel device eliminates scan lines for smooth and flicker-free gameplay, the companies said.

Microsoft and Samsung expect their alliance to drive the HDTV gaming platform and includes cinema, point of sale, television, print, on-line and various other media efforts.

Further, Microsoft?s Xbox incorporates Samsung technology and the first HD game is to incorporate Samsung-branded products, as well as instances of Samsung?s logo as part of the overall HD gaming experience, the companies said.

Microsoft pointed out that this marks the first time it is to incorporate a consumer electronics technology partner with the Xbox console and games.

The two companies also announced Monday that Samsung?s OneNAND flash memory has been incorporated into Microsoft ?s prototype hybrid hard drive, which combines NAND-based flash with rotating storage media.