Microsoft testing own-brand smartphone with manufacturers

Microsoft is working with manufacturers to develop an own-brand smartphone, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

According to their suppliers, which work for some of the suppliers involved in the plans, the Microsoft-branded smartphone will feature a screen of between four and five inches.

However, before you get too excited, the report also says the smartphone may never go into production.

Rumoured companies involved in the new device include Samsung, HTC and Motorola.

Motorola is the most unlikely of the three to produce a Windows Phone device, we think because it is owned by Google, and why would Google want to manufacture a rival device?

People 'familiar with the situation' said Microsoft may be taking Appl's model into account, which involves manufacturing hardware as well as software.

We doubt Microsoft will ever have the sort of smartphone monopoly Apple has, with it turning to a model where only Microsoft-manufactured devices are available. Microsoft has never been successful at manufacturing its own hardware, with devices by third parties dominating sales.