Microsoft's Lumia 1050 phone is reportedly being released early next year.

According to JBHNews, the new phone from Microsoft could even be launched as early as January, with February also remaining a distinct possibility.

Word of Microsoft possibly launching the Lumia 1050 this early on is catching some people off guard, especially considering just how recently the company launched both the 950 and 950 XL, but it may just be the company attempting to further cement its place in the mobile marketplace.

Another reason behind why some people have been caught off guard by the recent rumors regarding the Lumia 1050 is because by what they know, the company is still working toward acquiring more support for the Windows Store. Interestingly enough, the launch of the Lumia 1050 could in theory also help in that regard, making it more logical for Microsoft to release the phone sooner rather than later.

If Microsoft does indeed go through with launching the Lumia 1050 by February, then the new phone could be in stores as early as March.

Even though there are still few details officially known about the Lumia 1050, the belief is that the new phone will feature a lot of exciting new tech from Microsoft, especially considering how it is being positioned as the company's new flagship offering.

One persistent rumor concerning the Lumia 1050 suggests that the phone could feature an entirely new version of the Windows 10, according to Geek Snack. This could mean that the Windows 10 that will eventually be seen in the Lumia 1050 will be unlike any that have come before it.

The rumored Microsoft flagship is also supposedly putting great emphasis on photography. In light of this, the Lumia 1050 is rumored to have a 50-megapixel rear camera, although interestingly enough, it may not feature any kind of front-facing shooter.

The Lumia 1050 is also expected to have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor and could also feature as much as 128 GB of internal storage along with support for microSD cards.