Andre Yoskowitz
10 Mar 2013 20:03
Thanks to a new SEC filing, it appears that Microsoft may be ready to change its stance on creating a Surface-branded reference phone for Windows Phone 8.
Nokia made the filing, which is important as the company remains the top Windows Phone partner for Microsoft. Reads the filing: "Microsoft may make strategic decisions or changes that may be detrimental to us. For example, in addition to the Surface tablet, Microsoft may broaden its strategy to sell other mobile devices under its own brand, including smartphones. This could lead Microsoft to focus more on their own devices and less on mobile devices of other manufacturers that operate on the Windows Phone platform, including Nokia."
While the rest of the filing is standard disclosures about risk, the same wording was not used last year.
Microsoft is rumored to be in the concept stage of such a phone, despite long saying it would only make its own hardware as a "Plan B" to formal OEM partners.
(Mock via Verge)