14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has confirmed in emails sent to partners that Windows 10 Mobile will launch in February, and after delaying the operating system, it turns out that the company has decided to hold back the release of its “last Lumia” phone too.
Previously, it was believed that Lumia 650, which is presumably the last Lumia that Microsoft could release in 2016, would debut on February 1, but according to a report by WindowsCentral, that plan has changed, and the company has pushed the unveiling to mid-February.
While the reason is not yet known, it appears that the company came across some software or firmware issues with the phone, so delaying its unveiling was the best way to cope with it. At the same time, by bringing the phone out later the same month, Microsoft could synchronize the unveiling and the start of sales date.
More premium than the Lumia 950
What’s also very interesting is that the Lumia 650 could be made with laser cutting technology for its side metal edges, which is kind of weird, given the fact that it’s supposed to be a mid-ranger. Microsoft hasn’t used this premium tech on the Lumia 950, which is the company’s most expensive flagship phone.
At the same time, the report claims that the Lumia 650 could be the first step towards more internal changes at Microsoft. While it’s indeed generally referred to as “the last Lumia,” it’s not yet clear whether this is indeed the company’s last model for this year or forever.
But Redmond indeed plans to switch the focus to more premium devices, and the division led by the Surface creator Panos Panay is believed to be in charge of development. Rumor has it that Microsoft could lead to more layoffs as part of the change, with Panay likely to hire some of the employees leaving the Lumia division in order to continue work on new phones as part of his new team.
The first phone that could launch under the guidance of Panay is likely to be the Surface Phone, which, according to sources, could debut sometime in the second half of this year.