Evidence points to Intel SoC support in Windows 10 Mobile

Jul 15, 2015 22:06 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft made quite a few announcements in the last couple of months, most of them related to Windows Phone and the company's strategy towards its smartphone business.

After the first announcements, many thought - and still think - that Windows Phone is dead and Microsoft will drop support for its own OS in the next few years.

Still, Microsoft has been pretty clear in the latest statements and said that the latest changes are meant to streamline its smartphone business rather than bury it.

That being said, Windows Phone fans should certainly be excited for what's to come since Microsoft confirmed it would focus on “killer devices” rather than tons of affordable smartphones.

The first flagship smartphones will be launched by Microsoft this fall and they will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets.

However, rumor has it that the Redmond-based company has a few more surprises for Windows Phone fans starting early next year.

A Surface phone powered by an Intel SoC? Yes, please

According to WindowsCentral, Microsoft already has a smartphone in the works which will be equipped with an Intel chipset:

“We have already seen what Continuum for phones brings when Microsoft’s next flagships launch this fall. However, what about going further? Someone asked me about 'Intel-powered phones' and if I thought they were coming.

“I can now answer you: yes, early next year. Microsoft does have an Intel plan in the works. Would that make a good use of the Surface brand once you have an x86 phone that can be a true computer?”

Today, another piece of the puzzle has been revealed, which supports the above statement. It looks like Windows 10 Mobile already features support for Intel Atom x3 processor series, also known as SoFIA, WMPU reports.

A screenshot taken from the Microsoft.PhoneFM.xml configuration file in Windows 10 Mobile shows that Intel's SoFIA processor is definitely among the supported chipsets.

As for when exactly Microsoft will announce the new Intel-based Windows Phone handsets, it remains to be seen whether the company will unveil them at CES 2016 early next year, or a few months later at MWC 2016.

MicrosoftPhoneFM.xml configuration file (Windows 10 Mobile)
MicrosoftPhoneFM.xml configuration file (Windows 10 Mobile)

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