The Surface Phone would be the best move Microsoft could make this year
On October 6, Microsoft is expected to host its Windows 10 Devices event, where upcoming hardware will be revealed to consumers, at the Skylight in New York City. While the star of the show is expected to be the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft has also been rumored to unveil two Lumia phones, as well as a new and improved Band 2 fitness device.
A rumor running in parallel with the above mentioned hardware, is making the rounds, concerning an upcoming Surface Phone. The device is expected to be powered by a 64-bit Intel chip, possibly a mobile iteration of Skylake, with 4GB of RAM, and a 5.5 inches, 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution AMOLED display.
These specs are not only impressive, but very telling of the direction Microsoft is taking in regard to its mobile-first approach. Since the Surface Phone will run Windows 10, it’s almost a given that Continuum will be a prominent feature. According to what we know, the Surface Phone could pack enough power, to be used as a casual PC. on the fly, anywhere there is an HDMI-enabled screen, and wireless input devices available, either via Bluetooth or even USB port.
Microsoft needs to be a hardware manufacturer
The level to which Apple has brought the game of consumer computing, only in the last 10 years, has created a phenomenon in which companies that previously would have hardly been interested in creating hardware, are now required to do so, in order to stay competitive and relevant.
By that token, Google was never a hardware manufacturer, and still isn’t, at least when it comes to consumer-facing products, alas, the Nexus phone was born, as well as the Chromebook, and more devices where Google’s influence and technical specs played an important role in how devices are built.
Expansion and focus on the Surface product line shows a serious commitment from Microsoft, to provide consumers with an easier path to its products, through a more consistent branding, and this is precisely the reason why Lumia could become less relevant in the future. In simple terms, Surface should be as recognizable a brand as the MacBook is to Apple.