Microsoft and its partners said a variety of Windows Mobiles are launching in the U.S. this week, with new designs ahead of the winter holidays.

The smartphones include Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X1, which has a unique interface of multiple “panels” that can be customized by users – not unlike having multiple windows on a desktop computer.

Another device is the HTC Fuze. Its touchscreen uses 3-D effects, while its keyboard slides out from one side, as does the Xperia’s.

A less popular company, Pharos Science & Applications, has new phones that emphasize GPS and location software. The phones include a follow-me application for users to allow tracking of each other’s locations.

Separately, software localization specialist SDL announced that it recently provided Microsoft with a unified database application for the Windows Mobile lexicon.  Independent software vendors can access that database to ensure accurate and consistent terminology is used when programs are converted into other languages, an SDL representative said.