Rumors have emerged that Microsoft will be launching its Windows 10 Surface Phone by the second quarter of this year.
After the software giant’s success with its brand of Surface tablets, it is said to be extending its reach to include mobile phones, Android Origin said.
Microsoft’s second quarter launch is also reported to coincide with Apple’s iPhone 7 unveiling during the same period.
While the Redmond, Washington-based company has yet to officially announce or recognize rumors surrounding the Surface Phone, the device is said to be aimed at the business sector and is geared towards improving dismal smartphone sales.
With Windows phones accounting for only 1.7 percent of the mobile phone market, UK Business Insider reports the figure is a sore point for Microsoft, who is looking for a competitive edge against leading contenders, Samsung and Apple.
Microsoft is said to be preparing to make a big splash at the Mobile World Congress that will be held in Barcelona, Spain from Feb. 22 to 25, where the company is reportedly unveiling two new high-end Lumia phones.
The MWC may also be the venue it plans to introduce the Surface Phone to get its mobile phone brand back on track.
Barring the MWC announcement, Microsoft may also decide to launch the Surface Phone during its annual developer Build conference in April instead, Neurogadget said.
The Surface Phone, which will be designed by the same team that developed the company’s Surface tablets, is rumored to be made in an angular, metallic design, similar to its tablet counterparts.
The upcoming Windows phone’s strongest selling point would be its integrated Office software and other apps geared for everyday business use.
Reported to have a 5.5-inch 1440 x 2560p AMOLED display, the Surface Phone will be powered by an Intel Atom X3 CPU backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB to 128GB of onboard storage.
