Microsoft’s Kinect, which has been so far used for non-commercial purpose only, is going to be soon launched in commercial version. This commercial version of Kinect will roll out in early 2012. The currently available beta version is targeted at academics, enthusiasts, and researchers who use the motion-sensing capabilities of the Kinect for Xbox 360 technology to create new applications. In addition to video games, it has moved beyond the gaming world both because of its usefulness and its price.

Here’s what Microsoft announced on the same,

“The Kinect for Windows commercial program will launch early next year, giving global businesses the tools they need to develop applications on Kinect that could take their businesses and industries in new directions.”

More than 200 businesses took part in this pilot program in which Beta Kinect SDK will be launched. Some of the prominent names include Toyota, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Razorfish. For example, Toyota developed a virtual showroom allowing cars to be explored with gestures, and a Spanish technology group called Tedesys is using a Kinect device linked to a PC and monitor, allowing surgeons “to wave their way through patient records on screen during operations.”

Besides making this development, Microsoft is moving on a developmental track. Recently, the company posted record revenues for Q1. The company’s operating income totaled $7.2 billion with a net income of $5.74 billion.

Here’s an abstract from Microsoft’s statement:

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 20, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today announced record first-quarter revenue of $17.37 billion for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011, a 7% increase from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $7.20 billion, $5.74 billion, and $0.68 per share, which represented increases of 1%, 6%, and 10%, respectively, when compared with the prior year period.

“We had another strong quarter for Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync, and saw growing demand for our public and private cloud services including Office 365, Dynamics CRM Online, and Windows Azure,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “With a great set of consumer products like Windows 7 PCs, Windows Phone 7.5, Xbox and Kinect, we are excited about the holiday buying season.”

Check out the complete details here.

It’s taken Microsoft a while to come to court with their Kinect ball, but it’s about time. Gesture can be a very big deal for user experience and even Android is getting in on it–as seen in a video displaying a gesture control system on the Vega LTE by Panitech.