Microsoft features Jessica Alba and Gwen Stefani in new Windows Phone 8 ads

Microsoft’s newest Windows Phone 8 ads will start airing tonight, featuring Jessica Alba and Gwen Stefani.

The ads are fun and focused on people … which incidentally highlights Windows Phone’s core differentiation from both iPhone and Android-based smartphones. “The ads are designed to show how personal Windows Phone is while showcasing the features that make it so different,” a Microsoft representative told VentureBeat.

Here’s Jessica and her live updating home screen tiles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WpBTr4mxfhA

Microsoft is planning a massive campaign in the U.S., UK, France, and Germany — and it’s not afraid of the competition:

“In partnership with carriers and OEMs, we are … providing in store challenges that will put Windows Phone head to head with the competition while shining a brighter light on the OS than we have in the past,” the Microsoft representative said.

Here’s Jessica’s new Kids Corner, one of nine unexpectedly cool features of Windows Phone 8, which keeps kids apps separate from adults’ data.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qlGyuEkPVi0

Gwen Stefani’s ad focuses on how many different things Windows Phone 8 pulls together. While watching, I had to check if someone was calling me on Skype … a Skype incoming call tone rings about 15 seconds in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3CVBJ0FaCuU