14 DAY TRIAL // A series of patents that reached the web in the last couple of months brought the idea of a new Microsoft mobile device back in the spotlight, with some people calling this the eagerly-anticipated Surface Phone.
And while there’s no indication this is indeed a phone, it’s being rumored that Microsoft might be developing a Courier-like device with LTE capabilities and running Windows 10, but also with more advanced features like support for the Surface Pen.
The notebook-like model is also being pictured in a series of drawings included in a recent patent, confirming that Microsoft has indeed been working on a new form factor relying on foldable screens and an innovative hinge that plays a key role overall.
Several configurations
Basically, the device would come with two different screens that can be used separately but which can become a single display when the device is flat. The hinge is the one that seamlessly brings them together, giving the impression of a standard tablet with no gap between the screens.
As WindowsCentral notes, the idea of this new device is to provide several form factors depending on the angle of the screens, so it’ll be possible to use it with a flat configuration like a tablet, a tent mode for writing or watching videos, plus a classic laptop mode which could be enhanced either with a virtual keyboard or with a physical one should Microsoft launch such an accessory.
It goes without saying that patents should never be considered living confirmation of a device or certain features hitting the market, and this is the case with this new Microsoft mobile device.
On the other hand, there are more and more signs that Microsoft is looking into such a project and the closer we get to a possible launch, the more information emerges. Expect more such reports to become available in the first months of 2018.
