Microsoft Surface Phone updates: Flagship given the green light for Q2 2016 release?

Microsoft Official

Microsoft Lumia 950XL

Windows Central has word that a fully Microsoft-made handset called the Microsoft Surface Phone is being prepared for development, with the company's head of devices and Surface VP Panos Panay and the team behind the Surface devices in charge of building the smartphone.

Not much is known about the smartphone, although the aforementioned publication reports that the handset led to the cancellation of the development of the so-called Intel-powered metal Windows Phone, which was apparently designed by Nokia.

It looks like Microsoft has decided to develop its own mobile offering instead, giving birth to the Microsoft Surface Phone. A prototype of the smartphone was allegedly spotted in the software giant's test beds not too long ago.

Intel is apparently still involved in the project. In fact, word on the street is that the manufacturer will develop an x86 chipset for the upcoming handset out of Redmond as the company is finding ways to be able to top Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, which are used in most flagships today.

With this, the Microsoft Surface Phone will not only be able to run Windows Store apps but also Win32 apps, making the device a real pocket-sized computer. However, those are mere speculations at the moment as the handset remains shrouded in mystery.

It would not be impossible though. For years, it was anticipated that Microsoft will someday release its own laptop and this materialized this year in the form of the handsome and premium Surface Book. Along with the expectation of a Microsoft laptop was the hope that it will be out with a handset too.

The Microsoft Surface Phone is speculated to be out and about by the second quarter of 2016, although there's word that by August or September, the first full-fledged mobile offering from Microsoft will finally turn up.

At the moment, the Redmond-based company continues to promote its flagship smartphones Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the first Windows 10 phones.

Source: Microsoft Surface Phone updates: Flagship given the green light for Q2 2016 release?