Latest Report From WSJ Suggests Microsoft Surface Smartphone in Testing Stages

While many of the rumors surrounding Microsoft's possible Surface smartphone have been shaky at best, the latest report about the Redmond-based company making its own hardware for its Windows Phone 8 operating system comes from a much more reputable source: The Wall Street Journal.

WSJ claims that insiders -- specifically, "Officials at some of Microsoft's parts suppliers"-- have told them that Microsoft is working with component makers in Asia to tests its own smartphone design. That being said, the officials, who wished to remain anonymous, did qualify that statement by adding that they weren't sure if a product would ultimately go into mass production.

This isn't just some mythical device floating about in the ether, either. One of the representatives was actually able to describe the smartphone that Microsoft is testing, albeit in general terms, saying that it measures between four and five inches. This seems to be the going rate for smartphone display sizes these days, given the 4-inch size of the Apple iPhone 5's screen and the 4.8-inch screen of the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Microsoft is still staying mum on the topic, however, as a Microsoft spokesman declined to comment on the subject when contacted by WSJ. Meanwhile, when asked about the possibility of a Surface smartphone, CEO Steve Ballmer told the WSJ on Monday in an interview, "We're quite happy this holiday [season] going to market hard with Nokia, Samsung, and HTC...whether we had a plan to do something different or we didn't have a plan, I wouldn't comment in any dimension."

Source: The Wall Street Journal