Microsoft fans are eagerly waiting for news on the arrival of Surface Phone smartphone. Fresh information suggest that it may roll out as a 2-in-1 foldable smartphone.
Microsoft Surface Phone has been in rumors since 4 years, but the company has never confirmed officially that it is working on such a smartphone. A new patent granted to the Redmond based company.
The patent is for a 2-in-1 foldable smartphone that function as tablet and also as a smartphone. The patent was filed with USPTO with patent number 9,541,962. It was granted to Microsoft on Jan. 10
The design revealed through patent filing suggest it looks similar to the 2-in-1 notebooks available in the market. It features a flexible hinge structure, MS Power User reported.
The folding mechanism can help in switching from tablet to smartphone mode or vice-versa seamlessly. It has a screen on its exterior side. When unfolded, it can be used a tablet and it can be used as a smartphone when folded. The other half of the device is flanked with a keyboard and trackpad, Gizmo China reported.
There is no confirmation on whether Microsoft is planning to build a smartphone with a 2-in-1 design. There is a possibility that the company may build such a device as Samsung is already said to be working on a foldable smartphone that may release later this year or early next year.
Microsoft has killed its Lumia line of smartphones. It has not released a flagship smartphone since the release of Lumia 950 and 950 XL in October 2015. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had said in a recent interview that, "we will continue to be in the phone market, not as defined by today's market leaders, but by what it is that we can uniquely do in what is the most ultimate mobile device."
Microsoft is expected to relaunch itself into the smartphone market with the famous Surface branding. Several leaked photos and specs of alleged Microsoft Surface Phone have surfaced in the past. However, none of them have turned out to be true.
The Surface Studio details were revealed through patent filings months before its official announcement. Hence, there is a possibility that Microsoft may announce a Surface Phone 2-in-1 device later this year.
Here is what the rumor mill says about Microsoft Surface Phone