Is there a foldable smartphone/tablet in Microsoft's future?

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Microsoft's patented a design of a tablet that can fold into a smartphone. Discovered by MSPowerUser, the patent discusses a device that can switch from phone to tablet thanks to an articulating hinge design. Now, technology companies patent ideas all the time and there's little guarantee that the product or its components will ever maket it to market.

But this is Microsoft we are talking about, a company that is also a hardware manufacturer thanks to Xbox, Windows Phone and Surface. Now Windows Phone is dwindling market share into extinction, but Microsoft can still be a player if it comes out with a mobile 2-in-1 product like this. Here's why.

• Continuum - Windows 10 can automatically shrink or expand its user interface (UI) to fit any small or larger display size (thrid party applications, that's another hurdle). Having a 5-inch display that can become a 10-inch display and work seamlessly is within the realm of possibility.

• Windows on ARM - ARM chips are more powerful now even as they continue to be more power efficient. The latest Snapdrago processors are expected to match desktop class processors but with improved cooling and battery life. Getting processors to power Windows 10 in a smaller form factor can make this device a possibility.

• The technology exists - I've personally seen Lenovo's folding OLED tablet prototype, Samsung is reportedly working on a similar device.

• Microsoft's Surface group is relentless - Microsoft has large Windows 10 implementations with Surface Hub, Surface Studio, Surface Book and Surface Pro. It needs more mobile and portable devices such as tablets, phones (or a combination of both) to round out a solid devices business.

• Similar folding tablet product has been a glint in Microsoft's eye for some time. This concept reminds me of Project Courier, Microsoft's folding tablet that was a productivity focused device which was also heavily cloud connectedd

Source: Thurott.com