Microsoft is reportedly working on its purported Surface Phone, which is expected to replace the unsuccessful Windows Phone line. If rumors circulating online are to be believed, the device will be launched in April 2017 to coincide with the release of "Redstone 2," the second major Windows 10 upgrade for PC and mobile.

The Redmond tech giant launched the Surface tablet and Lumin 950 phones in 2015. But while the tablet has been a huge success, the Lumia phones failed to entice customers. As a result, 23 million Lumia phones were shipped during FY 2016. Eventually, the company has dropped the idea of manufacturing any further Lumia phone models, Windows Central reported.

It is worth mentioning here that the delay in launching the Surface Phone is not related to its hardware, but Microsoft wants to release the device with "Redstone 2," the follow-up to the first major upgrade to Windows 10. According to reports, "Redstone 1" is likely to be the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The company has already released a beta last week along with some new features.

Since "Redstone" will be a substantial update, a follow-up cannot be expected any time soon. Hence, it is understandable that "Redstone 2" may arrive in 2017. There are rumors that "Redstone 2" and "Redstone 3," which are yet to be announced by the company, are both likely to focus heavily on "innovation around mobile phones," Network World stated.

This is in line with the remarks of Microsoft Windows chief Terry Myerson at Build conference last month that the company was not focusing on the Windows Phone this year. Consequently, the Surface Phone did not come up for discussion at the conference.

Nevertheless, according to the report in Windows Central, Microsoft currently intends to concentrate on two areas. These include making the most secure phone available globally and making the most efficient smartphone.

The Windows Phone is already considered to be rather secure, as there are no vulnerability complaints like in the case of Android or regarding malware. On the other hand, malware writers generally do not target platforms having a market share below 2 percent. Secondly, Microsoft has been endeavoring to develop the Windows Phone as a productivity device equipped with support for Microsoft products.

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