Microsoft is adding a new marketing technique to its roaster. It has been working on a new min-tablet PC like device for more then a year now. Last week Microsoft started stealth marketing campaign by building initial buzz around the Web.

First someone “discovered” the site www.origamiproject.com registered to Microsoft. The site is nothing more then a couple flash pages asking “Do you know what I am?”, Do you know what I can do?” with the promise to tell more soon.

Then a year old video pops up on Digital Kitchen showing people using a handheld computer with a touch screen that’s being used to watch video, access the Web, send pictures and instant messages, use a map with global positioning satellite technology, listen to digital music and play videogames. It stays there just for a few hours to be downloaded and posted on YouTube.

And what do you know, after less then a week the Origami Project now ranks at 280 000 on Alexa and has more then 10 000 incoming links.

So what is this Origami project? From all the reports it appears to be a reference design for a new generation mini Tablet PC. Designed around small 6-8″ screen it will have pen based and keyboard input, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, GPS and run on low end Intel Core Ultra Low Voltage chips. Nothing more. And nothing less.

Microsft, Intel and even some PC manufacturers have been showing off these “reference designs” or “concept PCs” for a while now. Well, it seems that finally we will get one in production soon.

Microsoft today has updated Origami site saying that all the details will be revealed on March 09. So it seems that the device will be announced at Cebit trade show on March 09. It will probably go on sale late this summer.