Despite assurances that it has no plans to build its own Windows Phone devices, rumours of a Microsoft Surface smartphone have resurfaced (Apologies, could not resist!). A report by the China Times suggests that Microsoft has been working on such a device for at least four months now with plans to have it out in the first half of next year.
Microsoft’s decision to launch its own smartphone hardware is likely tied to the slow adoption of Windows Phone devices sold by its hardware partners. Nokia’s disappointing Lumia sales so far may explain why Microsoft is more closely working with other partners such as HTC. The move may suggest that Microsoft is also looking to borrow a page out of Apple’s strategy book and striving for more control of the entire hardware and software ecosystem.
No details about the upcoming Microsoft Surface smartphone were provided in the report.
Read more: China Times (in Chinese) [Google translation] (Source: Unwired View)