Microsoft Surface Phone may launch in 2017 with 3 variants

Early speculations suggest that the company may discontinue the Lumia series of smartphones with the launch of Surface branded smartphones.

Microsoft has met huge success with the launch of Surface branded devices like Surface, Surface Pro and Surface Book.

It seems that the Surface Phone won't launch until 2017, according to sources speaking to Windows Central. Each variant is expected to sport different configurations.

We have been hearing rumors about a Microsoft Surface Phone for some time and now according to a recent report the device is launching in 2017. Microsoft now intends to improve the condition of their mobile phone division as the first major step towards stepping up to a brighter future in the hardware markets.

So it looks like the Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL and the Lumia 650 could end up being the last Lumia Windows Phone devices from Microsoft. With the Lumia 950 and 950 XL garnering lukewarm receptions at best, news cycles have moved onto predicting certain death for Microsoft's smartphone ambitions with one shining caveat being the mythical Surface Phone as the company's lone path back to handset relevancy.

One of the probable reasons behind cancelling its Lumia line could be that the Redmond giant will no longer target the low-end and budget phone market so that other OEM brands like BLU and Alcatel can manufacturer such phones. The other reason could be that Microsoft wants to re-enter and disrupt the smartphone market with a stronger product.

While rumors of a Surface Phone are popping up with some frequency these days, a new report is throwing cold water on any 2016 release. Both the laptop-tablet hybrids are expected to come preloaded with Windows 10 Redstone 2 that will carry major improvements for the OS.

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Source: Microsoft Surface Phone may launch in 2017 with 3 variants