It has emerged that Microsoft owns the domain name surfacephone.com, prompting more speculation as to its smartphone plans.
There have been rumours of a Surface Phone or Surface Mobile from Microsoft for years now, ever since the first Surface Pro tablet hit shops. Now with the Lumia range floundering and recent devices like the Surface Pro 4 flourishing, those Surface Phone rumours are once again intensifying.
Several reports have claimed that the Lumia 650 will be the last phone in the former Nokia range, at which point Microsoft will go all-in with the Surface brand.
A recent Reddit post won’t have helped quieten those rumours. One user has pointed out that Microsoft has obtained the surfacephone.com domain name. Head to that address now, and you’ll be redirected to the Surface website.
Of course, as fellow Reddit users point out, it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to buy up related product names in order to head off potential ‘domain squatters’ – those who quickly snap up names based on potential products or brands with a view to holding said companies ransom with the rights.
Related: Microsoft Surface phone: 5 features we could see
Cynical types might also exploit the legitimate appearance of such a domain name to spread malicious links or adverts.
The post also points out that Microsoft has also obtained surfacelaptop.com and surfacecar.com, which could serve to dampen the Surface Phone rumour somewhat. We already have the Surface Book on the laptop front, and it doesn’t seem as if Microsoft will be entering the car business any time soon.
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What are you thoughts on Window phones? Let us known in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.