Microsoft eliminates all but one chassis vendor for the Surface tablet line

With buyers of the Microsoft Surface Tablet line not exactly knocking each other down in a race to the cash register, Microsoft has reduced the number of chassis suppliers for the tablet range to one. According to sources from the upstream supply chain, Microsoft stopped ordering the part from its Chinese-based suppliers last month. Instead, the manufacturer has started outsourcing all of its chassis orders to Ju Teng, a manufacturer located in Hong Kong.

Since the Surface is not a hot seller at the moment, Microsoft won't be able to save any money by spreading out orders for the chassis to multiple suppliers, and trying to negotiate a more favorable price amongst them. Sources say that Microsoft might try to reduce the number of suppliers for other Surface components to one.

Back in June, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 was launched. The slate is being marketed as a replacement for the laptop, able to handle any work related tasks, while also allowing users to play games, browse the internet and check their social networks. That makes the slab perfect for business executives and students alike. Just last week, Microsoft expanded the distribution of the Surface Pro 3 to 25 new markets.


source: DigiTimes