Rumours persist that Microsoft is cooking up an own-brand smart phone to go with its Surface tablet, with fresh reports suggesting the mythical mobile is already in testing.
Citing "people familiar with the situation", the Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft is working with suppliers in Asia to test a new smart phone, but isn't yet sure whether the device will go into mass production.
The phone is rumoured to measure between 4 and 5 inches, which would put it in line with, er, almost every other smart phone.
Microsoft's decision to make its own Windows 8 tablet was a controversial one, that's recently seen Acer take its ball home in a huff, delaying its Windows RT tablets until at least April next year.
Wading into the world of smart phones could equally rile manufacturers who've taken a gamble on Windows Phone 8, notably ailing firms Nokia and HTC. On the other hand, a Microsoft-branded mobile could be cheaper than the competition, which would be good for shoppers.
The Surface has been met with lukewarm reviews, with our review concluding that a relatively low-res screen, occasional sluggishness and a lack of apps spoil an otherwise tempting tablet.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has admitted that it "ran out of time" on building a notification centre for Windows Phone 8, the Verge reports. Android and iOS both offer swipe-down screens that collect alerts from texts, emails or apps, but Microsoft's platform is lacking.
"I promise we're thinking very very hard on that one," Microsoft's Thomas Fennel reportedly said, suggesting we'll see a notification centre cropping up with a future update.
Would you buy a Microsoft-made mobile? Or should Ballmer and buddies leave the hardware to more experienced companies? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
Image credit: Jonas Daehnert on DeviantArt
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Comments 6
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anonymous 2 November, 2012 14:27
this will be awful, surely it won't even be able to keep up with the competition. why try?
damien2501 2 November, 2012 15:43
Microsoft need to get windows phone 8 into as many people's hands as possible. The more people use it the more apps will be made for it, then I wonder what excuse reviewers will use to put down windows mobile
anonymous 2 November, 2012 16:48
Well Windows 8 has got me really interested, just bought a new laptop with windows 8 on it and in need of a new phone and windows phone 8 has me really interested. It will either be this or the nexus 4 phone.
CaptainPicard 2 November, 2012 22:54
Makes sense, they are only doing what Google does with its Nexus range, which is set a bar that manufacturers have to beat. And aren't most Android apps are coming to Windows 8?
anonymous 3 November, 2012 11:59
HELLO AND MY NAME IS DUMDUM AND I THINK THIS PRODUCT WONT WORK BECAUSE ITS NOT AN APPLE PRODUCT IT IS A MICROSOFT PRODUCT AND DUMDUM ONLY LIKES APPLE PRODUCTS
anonymous 9 November, 2012 14:27
If the surface, xbox and zune is anything to go by then a phone made by MS would be amazing. It comes to something when a software company can kick hardware companies around in the hardware arena but MS do. Yeah I know the Zune didn't catch on but if you own one esp the hd you would agree it really should of done. currently you have the 920 that's way overpriced the 820 a great phone but with the feeling of just being a cheap 920 with a low res screen. You then have htc with the 8x a simply stunning phone but pointless as it has next to no storage and the 8s is just a budget phone all round. The Ativ s shows promise but its delays and lack of love from Samsung themselves leaving it with nothing to stand out other then a great battery. It seems that leaving it to others has seen MS great shot as a luke warm attempt at best and sabotaged if you think about it. If that's all they can offer then its time MS did step up to show them how it is done. Its not like they cant make good hardware look at the htc one x+, that running windows phone 8 would have be do a love wee all over myself.