FutureFive New Zealand - Consumer technology news & reviews from the future
Story image
Microsoft building own smartphone?
Mon, 5th Nov 2012
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Microsoft is rumoured to be designing their own Surface-like smartphone.

According to unnamed sources from the Wall St Journal, the software giant is working with component suppliers in Asia to test its own smartphone design.

The website says Microsoft "is testing a smartphone design but isn't sure if a product will go into mass production."

Measuring between four and five inches, Microsoft's design will be of similar size to Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy SIII.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has suggested the company could follow Apple’s approach only two weeks ago, pointing to hardware and online services as its future.

Speaking in his annual letter to shareholders, Ballmer implied the tech giant may consider building their own phones, following in the footsteps of its forthcoming Surface tablet PC and Xbox gaming console.

“There will be times when we build specific devices for specific purposes, as we have chosen to do with Xbox and the recently announced Microsoft Surface,” Ballmer says.

While acknowledging Microsoft’s role in the so-called “ecosystem” was changing, he confirmed the company would continue working with hardware partners Dell, Samsung and HTC.

“It impacts how we run the company, how we develop new experiences, and how we take products to market for both consumers and businesses,” Ballmer says.

“This is a significant shift, both in what we do and how we see ourselves – as a devices and services company.”

Can Microsoft make a success of building their own smartphones? Tell us your thoughts