With Microsoft delving to the hardware business with the Surface tablet, which runs Windows RT, it’s not that far of a stretch to believe that they may also want to build their own smartphone as well. According to the Wall Street Journal, who reports that Asian suppliers have begun working with the Redmond company on a smartphone that has been designed in house like the Surface.
This claims aren’t that far fetched, especially with Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, saying recently that they were now more than just a software company, they were a services and products company and they would be delivering more devices and hardware.
If Microsoft does in fact plan to release their own smartphone, don’t expect it to be anytime this year, as Microsoft would not want to risk crippling it’s partners Nokia and HTC, who have pledged support to the struggling Windows Phone OS. But if and when they do release a phone, will it be enough to help the platform grow or will it just be another cog in the device?