Microsoft brings out the folding smartphone "Surface Duo"

After Samsung and Huawei, Microsoft is now also offering a foldable smartphone. While the displays of the competition can be folded, Microsoft simply provided the "Surface Duo" with two screens. It is still unclear when the device will come to Germany.

Redmond (dpa) - Microsoft is making a new foray into the wireless communications business. The new Android smartphone from the technology group, called "Surface Duo", has two displays, each with a 5.6-inch diagonal, which can be opened to form a large screen.

In contrast to similar devices from Samsung and Huawei, the display itself cannot be folded, but is divided into two parts. The device can be pre-ordered in the US, announced Microsoft. The company did not say whether and when the device will be offered outside the United States.

For years Microsoft had tried to compete with Apple's iPhone and successful Android smartphones with its own Windows Phone operating system. That didn't go very well, though. In 2013, Microsoft bought Nokia's cell phone business in an attempt to anchor Windows Phone in the market.

The acquisition turned into a financial disaster running into billions, thousands of employees lost their jobs, and the Nokia investment was completely written off with the exit from the smartphone market.

Microsoft now relies on Android and its Microsoft 365 subscription offer, which consists of cloud services and a software package. "The Surface Duo combines the power of Microsoft 365 with the entire ecosystem of mobile Android applications in one device with two screens that you can take with you anywhere," said Product Manager Panos Panay.

The 250 gram Surface Duo works with a chip based on technology from the semiconductor designer ARM, a Snapdragon 855 Mobile from Qualcomm. Microsoft does not support the fast 5G wireless data transmission and is limited to an LTE cellular modem. When folded, it looks like a somewhat plump iPhone 11 (6.1-inch display), but can be opened to double the size.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200812-99-144066 / 2

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