A Microsoft executive has given hints of a business smartphone in the making, possibly the heavily rumoured Microsoft Surface Phone

On a podcast interview with Windows Weekly, Microsoft CMO Chris Capossela made some remarks that have given strong hints to Windows fans about the possibility of seeing a Windows Surface Phone come to life.

"[We are] very cognizant of our position in the phone world, and frankly, we've done the hard yards to retrench and have an approach that in this coming year is very much about trying to satisfy our fans and trying to have a great success in the business world for businesses that want to buy phones for their employees." Capossela said in the podcast interview. "...We need some sort of spiritual equivalent on the phone side that doesn't just feel like it's a phone for people who love Windows."

Previous rumours pointed at Microsoft starting efforts to build a business phone that would be geared towards productivity. While Microsoft has worked very hard to release the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, which is a consumer phone that anyone can acquire and benefit from, the Redmond-based company is also reportedly wanting to come up with something more corporate in terms of fuction.

Nokia Power User notes that the creation of a Surface Phone will greatly complement the productivity and power that the Surface Book provides.

According to International Business Times, the Microsoft Surface Phone may be released this year, and is believed to be Microsoft's move to compete with the upcoming iPhone 7. If that rumour is confirmed, then users can expect innovative design and powerful specs for the Surface handset.

Previous speculations pointed at a Surface Phone run by an Intel Atom x7 processor, and sporting an OLED display with Quad HD resolution and at least 64 GB internal storage. It also believed that the smartphone will have a 3100 mAh battery.