Microsoft may surprise the market with sooner than expected launch of Foldable Dual-Screen Surface Phone aka Andromeda Mobile device. Our sources claim to hear some murmurs about Microsoft talking to its channel partners about a new Surface category of devices.
While the Surface Phone/Andromeda device is essentially targeted at enterprise customers it will take benefit of the existing Surface retail channels to reach to the consumers too. Usually, such planning takes place when Microsoft is about to unveil something significantly big like a new category of devices with reach to consumers.
We have been reporting about Microsoft still working on a foldable dual-display Surface Mobile/Andromeda device. We even posted exclusive details about this device and you can read our exclusive coverage of Surface Phone/Mobile top features/specs, photos & other details here.
So, what can one expect in terms of some tentative timelines for the mythical Surface Phone/Andromeda devices? As per the best information, we have one can expect an announcement in coming months most probably along with the release of Windows 10 Redstone 4.
But that doesn’t guarantee arrival of Surface Phone with Windows 10 Redstone 4 update which may be scheduled to be released in March/April 2018. For example, the always-connected PCs with ARM processors and e-SIM capability were announced long-time ago but still need the Windows 10 Redstone 4 for activation of the vital e-SIM feature. So, even if Microsoft talks about this form-factor in the H1 2017 we may actually see its arrival in H2 2017.
Some recent developments like the appearance of the Apps Hub for the Andromeda device with Windows 8828080 which is, in fact, Andromeda OS also hints at sooner arrival of the Surface Phone. This means Microsoft is preparing the eco-system to support it.
Many recent patents granted to Microsoft have revealed very detailed information about a device that looks market-ready. In the most recent Microsoft patent reported by us, Microsoft even talks about why dual-display devices are needed.
We earlier reported about Microsoft’s original plan that put Surface Phone launch in the 2nd half of the year 2018. But these recent leaks and what we have heard from our retails sources raise our hopes too for a probable launch in the first half of 2018.
We must exercise caution here as such plans can change and had changed many times in past. Microsoft has in fact even killed devices like Surface Mini after developing it to the market-ready stage. But the foldable form-factor has necessitated lots of investment from Microsoft and Microsoft won’t take chances by introducing a half-baked product.
