Microsoft is reinventing the mouse wheel, adding "Tilt Wheel Technology" for horizontal scrolling and smoothing the vertical scroll motion.

The tilting wheel lets users scroll left and right as well as up and down without having to use the on-screen navigation bars. This can be handy when working on a large spreadsheet or trying to view an unwieldy Web site, Microsoft says in a description of its technology.

New Mice Due

Microsoft plans to release on September 3 three new mice that implement the new tilting wheel, a company spokesperson says. One will be a corded mouse and two cordless, operating at 27MHz, the spokesperson adds. The mice will also have a feature that lets users toggle between open applications on a PC by pressing down on the wheel, she says.

The new Microsoft mice will be sold worldwide. Microsoft will disclose product and pricing details upon their release. However, pricing is expected to be in line with Microsoft's current mouse portfolio, which ranges from $34.95 to $44.95 for corded and 27MHz cordless mice. Microsoft's Bluetooth mouse costs $84.95.

Eight out of every ten mice sold in the U.S. has a scroll wheel, according to Microsoft, which cited research by NPD Techworld. However, the company contends that users want more functions. The vendor says its own research finds strong demand for horizontal scrolling.