Following the release of Microsoft's Surface Tablet, the company might be moving in to take a slice out of the highly-lucrative smartphone market.
According to the Wall Street Journal's inside sources, Microsoft is currently in talks with its Asian suppliers to test and finalize the smartphone's hardware. Although the report claims Microsoft is still unsure whether the device will enter the mass production phase or not at this point.
Admittedly, details are scarce but the same report claims that the smartphone's screen Microsoft is currently testing measures between four to five inches. For reference, Apple's iPhone 5 has a four-inch screen, while its closest competitor, Samsung's Galaxy S III has a 4.8-inch screen.
In related news, it's been noted that while Microsoft has indeed considered developing its own Windows Phone, according to The Verge's sources that it's most likely a "Plan B" should Windows Phone 8 under-perform.
Could this be Microsoft's Trojan Horse into the 3DS and PS Vita's portable market? Although, it's worth noting that if the publisher does enter the smartphone race with portable gaming in mind, they won't just duke it out with Nintendo and Sony…but with Apple's products and even the Android platform, too.
Would you want Microsoft to develop its own smartphone? If so, can you see this being tied-up with their next-gen Xbox?
