Windows

Microsoft Surface Phone name pops up on benchmarks, shown running Windows Phone 8

posted by Victor H. / Sep 04, 2012, 2:38 AM

Microsoft Surface Phone name pops up on benchmarks, shown running Windows Phone 8

The Microsoft Surface tablet was Microsoft’s answer to a growing frustration with uninspiring designs from vendors, and now Redmond might be readying a Microsoft Surface Phone. A device under the Surface Phone codename running on Windows Phone 8 surfaced on WP benchmark WP Bench.

Will Microsoft dare release its own Surface Phone, though? Its partners were definitely not happy that now they have to compete with the software giant, but for Redmond developing such a handset might mean securing a back-up plan in case Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone devices don’t get the much needed traction for the platform.

Still, this could upset a lot of phone makers which might turn out to be damaging to Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile operating system.

Windows 8 has got the audience, popularity and confidence of a market leader, so Microsoft can risk angering its partners who often don’t have any other choices, but in mobile things are different.

Now, we should make it perfectly clear - this is just a rumor, not backed up by any actual pictures or something more substantial. We’d definitely take this with a huge grain of salt, but we can’t help but wonder - would you like to see a Microsoft Surface Phone?

Check out the benchmark where it appears and chime in with your thoughts below.

source: WP Area via PocketNow

A fan-made render of a possible future Microsoft Surface Phone.

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42 Comments

1. chocolatebear76

Posts: 123; Member since: Mar 03, 2011

well! it's seems microsoft is fast becoming like Apple,if this rumour turnout to be true

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 2:44 AM 12

4. apocalypsebc

Posts: 148; Member since: Dec 07, 2010

Not really! Other manufacturers can make phones running WP8 OS. That can't and wont be done on Apple OS as of yet.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 2:50 AM 9

16. MeoCao unregistered

But once MS starts to make their own phones major OEMs will stay away from WP, they don't have any chance to make profit as they have to pay the license fees. Android is the way to go.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 5:18 AM 3

17. AppleConspiracy

Posts: 637; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

No, it's not. Numbers tell us Android is the dominant OS and the best solution for the industry, however everone is losing money except Samsung. It seems that Microsoft has learned something from that.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 5:35 AM 2

23. sats.mine2k4

Posts: 208; Member since: Aug 10, 2012

Ya Coz they don't sell a product where the manufacturing cost is less than 20% of the MSRP... and all Android OEM's have to deal with being sued or paying fees for Patent trolls... The only other reason for Android OEM's to loose money is paying those Developers for destroying the beauty and ease of Stock android... Instead OEM's should make the focus on developing app suites which run on stock Android and are of real use to End users....

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 7:47 AM 1

29. MeoCao unregistered

You are wrong, SS, HTC, LG, Asus... all make profits, and many other small OEMs too. Only Motorola and Sony are losing money. But it's true that SS gets most of the money. On the other hand every1 is losing money with WP, even MS and Nokia despite the fact Nokia does not have to pay license fees.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 12:28 PM 0

30. AppleConspiracy

Posts: 637; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

HTC is loosing money rapidly (40 percent in this year on 30 percent drop from last year - they are doomed very soon). LG in similar fashion, although they have large industry (but in mobile they are even worse than Motorola). Sony also reports great loses, though next Xperia line helped a little. HP just reported $9 billion loss. Dell was reporting losses before... ASUS is still in safe zone though, but their situation is little different. Only Samsung makes profits, others barely survive. Please check it out.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 12:44 PM 0

38. MeoCao unregistered

Where did you get that information from? HTC is making profits, smaller profits than last year though. Dell and HP are Windows OEMs, they briefly made Android but quit long ago. On the other hand who make profits off WP?

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 9:13 PM 0

39. AppleConspiracy

Posts: 637; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Well, it's not okay to mix Android and Windows OEMs but now I was talking about the fact that letting the OEMs run the business is far less profitable than having your own OS and hardware. This fact is proven with steep fall of profits (and even worse) of major Android OEMs, and it began to show even among Windows OEM as Industry is making shift to mobile computing. Apple has showed the power of single manufacturer to take the whole Industry down, which is why we see everyday the desperate steps of the fallen giants to adapt to this new kind of technological paradigm. In my opinion, Microsoft has realised that and when we look back a year ago or so, we see the gradual transformation of fundamental business models toward OEMs, that makes them furious and unprotected. They almost sabotaged Nokia to near-doom scenario and then Windows OEMs with their own tablet. Changing the game again with Surface Phone would finally mean that Microsoft want's to be like Apple and cut all dependencies of OEMs. Of course, everyone smart enough to see the falling trend of profits in majority of industry would do exactly the same. That HTC is making profits is only illusion: they made 0.4% profits in this year (which is a lot considering they had falling trend that was measured in dozens of percentages) because of agresively marketed One series, which was meant to raise the company back to sky-high 2010 profits. But they've fallen at least 50% since then, and nothing can save them really. They merely stopped the fall - and that's what "profits" mean in their case. Other companies are not so unlucky because they have other aspects of industry, but HTC is probably doomed because they have only mobile segment.

posted on Sep 05, 2012, 1:55 AM 0

5. AppleConspiracy

Posts: 637; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

I agree. Microsoft has gone Apple way, although it seems it was not their original plan. They rather wanted to be OS provider that is aware of fragmentation and openesss problems, but now they are begining to understand that they couldn't make a consistent product that would in perception have so much impact like Apple's products have. Microsoft Surface Tablet was a game changer that made other manufacturers furious. Then they said they won't make their phone. Then Ballmer said it's an option. And now this. They will loose all the cooperations, but it's their fault - they are uninspiring and obsolete in approach, not qualified to compete with Apple. Microsoft has only chance by taking the matter it in its own hands. They already lost the whole consumer PC industry anyway (Dell, HP and many others are having epic losses).

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 2:52 AM 0

8. snowgator

Posts: 3621; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

Don't agree with you, A.C. Windows PC's are still hugely profitable. Do not fall into the trap where companies not making projected goals means they lost money. They just didn't make as much money as they wanted. Even phones and the gaming industry have slowed down in this world wide economy. MS is not hurting in either Windows profits or Office profits. As for this rumor- when I see it. Nokia is a much better outlet for MS. The smartphone market is so much more cut throat and expensive to go after than the still developing tablet market. Makes no sense right now to see MS put out it's own smart phone. Nokia can do it so much better. Maybe this is simply covering it's bases in case Nokia goes to it's "plan B"?

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 3:46 AM 2

14. AppleConspiracy

Posts: 637; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

I'm well informed in the Industry and so far all my predictions showed to be correct. I have been constantly in arguments with other "experts" that always tell me that Industry still has large sales and profits. So was Nokia two years ago. They were telling me that there is no chance Nokia would ever go as low to run for their existence, because they still heled enormous marketshare. I think Microsoft is adapting quickly and doesn't wait to see how industry will go down to the point of no return. They are very aware that despite expensive marketing campaigns Nokia still goes steep down, burning the reserves. The same goes for the rest of the Industry except Samsung. The reason why "experts" still think that there is still a lot more space of profit than you might thnik is beacuse they don't understand what's happening to the technological paradigm. Desktop computing dies. That's what's happening. If they don't drastically change paradigm from convergence (established by Microsoft in 1995) to divergence (established by Apple in 2008), all Industry giants, like Lenovo, HP, Dell etc. will continue to plumet as they already began. Everyone of them is now in panic, aware that they are unstoppably loosing the market. HP gave up tablet production some year or two ago, stopping the WebOS. Now they will reconsider that decision. Microsoft is in even greater panic: they constatly change their politics toward OEM manufacturers, and the trend is directed toward Apple-like company, by cutting the connection with the rest of the falling Industry. This panic is all around us. They push hard this autumn, because that's what they depend upon. It's not coincidence that Microsoft is now thinking about their own phone. When you think, they said back in 2010 that tablets are just a short-term trend and they won't be bothering with it. I mean, come on... it's that obvious!

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 4:04 AM 0

32. htc_prep

Posts: 303; Member since: Oct 09, 2009

I dont believe microsoft is making an about face, at this point it is another option for consumers. it's almost in a way mirrors Google and the Nexus line. every other manufacturer can build the phone to their liking following a set standard but the head honcho is just showing what they want their product to look like, feel like and opperate. They are setting the bar. Microsoft isnt going to stop others from making WP devices since the OEMs need to buy the OS from MS, an the OEMs arent going to stop producing WP devices because another manufacturer joined the group because there is an audience for WP devices growing and it adds money to their profit margins.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 3:05 PM 0

36. pikapowerize

Posts: 1869; Member since: May 03, 2012

they should act like google, releasing a nexus device to manufactures.. so i think releasing a surface device to manufactures will be good!! i think this surface phone will be announce on sept 5th(just my lucky and hoping guess)!! along with nokia's own lumia line since its an even that microsoft and nokia prepping about... but the device looks so odd... i think it will be like iPhone 4/4S that it will be odd holding on the hand naked... it needs some rubber cover to make your hand comfortable

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 6:43 PM 0

2. StreetNerd

Posts: 870; Member since: Dec 08, 2010

HELL YEA! the new Lumias looks bad imo.... same design as second gen Lumias =(

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 2:45 AM 1

15. Mittal

Posts: 494; Member since: Dec 14, 2011

As a consumer... Bring on max competition..... We will be the benefeciaries (unless they make a cartel)

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 4:32 AM 6

18. StreetNerd

Posts: 870; Member since: Dec 08, 2010

lololol haters :') why down vote when it is the truth -_- same design only better specs....

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 5:41 AM 2

21. ogy_dogy

Posts: 453; Member since: Jun 29, 2012

imho the lumia 800 design is the best piece of harware out there, nokia should have saved it for later. I wouldnt mind if they made a whole series of phones looking exactly like that, from a 3 incher to a phablet. makers like samsung and htc are clueless about design compared to nokia. only other good looking industrial phones imho are sadly iphones. as for a surface phone, id love msoft to make one but im sticking with nokia since 1998 and into the future.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 7:18 AM 1

24. Mittal

Posts: 494; Member since: Dec 14, 2011

ya the Lumia 800/900 design is one of the best looking peice of mobile hardware BUT had it saved it for later, there might not have been any 'later' for them...

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 8:43 AM 4

25. ogy_dogy

Posts: 453; Member since: Jun 29, 2012

that is true...

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 9:05 AM 0

37. htc_prep

Posts: 303; Member since: Oct 09, 2009

yes the Lumias are clean but hign end HTC phones and flagships have phenominal Design concepts behind them (One x & s, Evo4g LTE, Sensation, Hero) while the lower end and regional devices are nice looking but not awe inspiring (Evo shift, Rezound) if the S3 wasnt coated in HyperGlaze i would have an arguement to support samsung.

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 7:24 PM 0

40. ogy_dogy

Posts: 453; Member since: Jun 29, 2012

I have to agree about top end htc-s, but the rest just looks boring, and so does the galaxy s3, i want something that looks great and feels sturdy and slightly heavy in the hand, samsungs just feel flimsy... btw why are phones called differently in the usa, lets say your evo 4g lte would just be called evo in eu...

posted on Sep 05, 2012, 2:15 AM 1

3. apocalypsebc

Posts: 148; Member since: Dec 07, 2010

A surface WP8 would be nice as long as it doesn't look to much like a Zune HD. I hope they make it look more like the surface but a Phablet ;-)

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 2:45 AM 2

22. StreetNerd

Posts: 870; Member since: Dec 08, 2010

my current phone is the lumia 800 white... sxy thing yes... but the lumia 920 is hell ugly if its thicker thn the lumia 900

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 7:43 AM 2

26. SleepingOz unregistered

Don't ever dare to say that these new Nokia are ugly! Massive thumbsdown from fanboys coming for you!

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 11:01 AM 1

31. StreetNerd

Posts: 870; Member since: Dec 08, 2010

im a fanboy? dafuq? a WP fanboy yes... haters gonna hate

posted on Sep 04, 2012, 2:24 PM 0

28. Contreramanjaro

Posts: 153; Member since: Dec 04, 2011

I wouldn't mind a Zune HD looking thing at all. That device was really nice to hold and just felt right. I still like a phone that I don't have to use two hands to do anything on like all the 4" beasts.