Is Microsoft gearing up to make another attempt in the foldable smartphone market after the failure of its Surface Duo? A recent patent suggests they might be. Originally published in 2021, this patent hinted at the possibility of a third-generation Surface Duo. However, new updates to the patent have brought it back into the spotlight, sparking fresh speculation about Microsoft’s plans. According to the patent, Microsoft is developing a new kind of foldable device that could solve many of the problems seen in today’s foldable phones. Instead of the dual-screen design of the original Surface Duo, this new concept would feature a single foldable screen. The device could fold both inward and outward, which is different from most foldable phones that typically only fold inward. One of the major issues with current foldables is the appearance of creases on the screen where it folds. Microsoft’s solution is clever: the patent describes a system where excess screen material can be hidden within the device’s chassis as it folds, preventing visible creases or dips. Achieving this would involve advanced manufacturing techniques, such as wet etching and laser cutting, according to the patent details. Microsoft’s journey in the mobile phone market has been rocky. The company first entered the space with its Windows Mobile software, but it struggled to compete when Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android phones arrived. Windows Mobile was designed for older resistive touchscreens, which used a stylus, whereas the iPhone and Android phones were optimized for modern capacitive touchscreens that could be controlled by finger taps. By the time Microsoft launched its new Windows Phone 7, which was a complete redesign of the software, it was too late. Apple and Android were already dominating the market, and Microsoft couldn’t break through as a major player. Even acquiring Nokia Mobile, one of the biggest phone manufacturers at the time, didn’t help. Eventually, Microsoft gave up on its mobile operating system entirely. In 2020, after several years away from the mobile market, Microsoft made a surprising move by launching the Surface Duo. This time, instead of using its own software, the device ran on Android. The Surface Duo was technically a foldable phone, but it had a different design than the foldables we’re used to today. It had two separate screens connected by a hinge, allowing it to fold 360 degrees. While the idea was innovative, the Surface Duo faced several problems. It was expensive, had software limitations, and didn’t get much promotion. As a result, it didn’t catch on with consumers. Microsoft released a second version, the Surface Duo 2, which had some improvements, but it still failed to gain significant traction. Rumors about a Surface Duo 3 with a flexible OLED screen began to circulate, but the project was eventually canceled. The recent updates to Microsoft’s patent have sparked some hope that the company might be working on a new foldable device. However, it’s important to take this with a grain of salt. Big tech companies like Microsoft file patents all the time, and only a small percentage of them ever turn into actual products. Even if this concept doesn’t make it to market, filing the patent still has value. It secures the idea and could lead to licensing deals, allowing Microsoft to profit from its innovation without ever launching the product. Follow this and more on OUR FORUM.

The Android operating system, despite its immense potential, often feels like a missed opportunity. Google’s ambitious strategy of creating an open-source platform with multiple hardware partners seemed poised to revolutionize the mobile device landscape. Yet, seventeen years later, the single-vendor, proprietary iPhone still dominates mobility. Google is a highly innovative company, but often suffers in the execution department. By contrast, Microsoft isn’t particularly innovative, but excels in execution, particularly in enterprise use cases. Let's delve into some illustrative examples. Google Apps, launched in 2006, was a pioneering move—a web-based office productivity suite, when the concept of working in the cloud was still nascent. Though Google Apps couldn’t match Microsoft Office's functionality, it's good enough solution appealed to many individuals and small businesses. Fast forward a few years, Microsoft introduced a web-based version of Office (Office 365) that was far more capabile. Despite arriving late to the party, Microsoft’s iteration was so refined and familiar that it now boasts over 200 million subscribers, generating billions in revenue annually. .Another example: Consider the browser wars. Google recognized the shortcomings of Internet Explorer long before Microsoft did, leading to the development of Chrome. Through its open-source foundation, Chrome catalyzed innovation and quickly became the dominant browser. Microsoft responded by adopting Chromium’s open-source framework for its Edge browser, thereby revitalizing its web presence and ending incompatibilities of the browser wars. Edge has become a robust alternative to Chrome. Another pertinent example is WebRTC. Google’s efforts made this real-time communication protocol a free, browser-based standard. Initially, Microsoft was hesitant, with Lync and Skype for Business lacking WebRTC support. However, Teams extensively leverages WebRTC to deliver video and interoperability with other collaboration platforms. Google Meet on the other hand still only has browser and third party options for its interoperability. For those not familiar, Android exists in two forms: a free, open-source version and a proprietary, paid version that includes Google apps and access to the Play Store. The latter is prevalent in Android-based smartphones in the US and Europe, while many Asian vendors prefer the free version, customizing it to access their own app ecosystems. With the paid version of Android, manufacturers must sign Google's Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). This version requires bundling Google apps and the Google Mobile Services (GMS) framework. GMS requires users to log into their Google accounts during device setup. While the current plans to implement MDEP in meeting rooms is intriguing, its potential is far greater. I foresee Microsoft reentering mobility with its own version of Android aimed at business users. This version would integrate with Microsoft applications natively, allowing users to log in with their Microsoft credentials instead of a Google ID. For apps, users could access a new Microsoft app store—let’s tentatively call it the "Work Store." This move could position Microsoft as a mobile player and nudge Google (and its Play Store) further toward consumers. In 2015, Microsoft wrote off $7.6 billion related to its acquisition of the Nokia phone business and, soon after, killed Windows Phone. Microsoft experimented with making Android phones before (Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2), but those were Google MADA phones that required Microsoft users to use or create Google credentials. In an interview with Business Insider, CEO Satya Nadella reflected on the company’s mistakes with mobile: “I think there could have been ways we could have made [mobile phones] work by perhaps reinventing the category of computing between PCs, tablets, and phones.” Learn more by visiting OUR FORUM.