14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft might be giving up on Windows phones, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is stepping away from the mobile world completely.
In fact, the last few months brought us evidence that the software giant is exploring several ways to remain in an active player in mobile, and in addition to apps and services released on Android and iOS, it turns out something on the hardware side is planned as well.
A patent describing a peripheral device simply called “User Input Peripheral” presents a Microsoft project that would serve as a companion device for Apple’s iPhone and enable features like easier and faster phone calls.
As MSPU notes, the device would play a double role: phone dock for the iPhone and VoIP speaker, with built-in features like speakers and microphones.
Bluetooth support
With both wired and wireless support (via Bluetooth) being offered, the new device would also boast notification lights and buttons to quickly perform certain tasks, such as launching Skype or answering a phone call. A Lightning connector would be offered to communicate with the iPhone.
Without a doubt, such a device would bring iPhones and Windows 10 PCs closer together, which could help Microsoft appeal to more mobile users who want to stick with its desktop operating system. It’s not a secret that Apple’s ecosystem attracts a significant number of iPhone buyers as a result of the integration with macOS, so with such a device, Microsoft could bring more customers to its own platform.
As usual, a patent is by no means confirmation that a certain technology is pushed to mass production, but as the cited source notes, the drawings appear to be in an advanced stage already and this could be an indication that Microsoft might be planning to bring it to the market as well.
It remains to be seen if and when the device could get the go-ahead, but even if it doesn’t, the patent is living proof that Microsoft has several methods in mind to remain committed to mobile.
