Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release date and specs rumors: Microsoft is working with HP to develop a new Windows phone?

People visit the Microsoft booth during the 2015 Computex exhibitionReuters/Pichi Chuang

Microsoft is off to a very good start in terms of its new product releases and it seems like the company has more surprises up its sleeve as it continues its run to muscle its way to the top of the mobile market. The company just released a slew of new products last month, which included the new Surface Studio all-in-one computer and the new Surface Book i7.

Several reports have revealed that the company apparently plans to further expand its Surface line next year, which could include the highly rumored new Surface smartphone, the Surface Phone. A report from the German website, DrWindows.de, has revealed that Microsoft is allegedly working closely with HP to develop a brand new smartphone that will be sporting the Surface branding.

According to the report, the new Windows 10-run smartphone will essentially be an overhauled Lumia device that will have the latest hardware incorporated into it. The website also states that it actually has concrete evidence regarding the existence of the Surface Phone and that it is actually going to be coming out sometime next year. The most likely dates that have been predicted for the release of the new device are sometime during February or perhaps during the upcoming 2017 Mobile World Congress event which will be held between late February and early March.

The report also reveals that it does not actually have any specifics on the hardware and features of the new device, but it does speculate that the new Surface Phone may retain some of the features that are found on the current generation Lumia smartphones. These features will likely include Lumia technologies such as ClearBlack screens, Notification Glance, camera shortcuts, and the latest camera sensors.

To back up its claims regarding the existence of the device, the report further reveals that an internal memo has apparently been circulated within Microsoft, announcing to its staff that the company does plan to release a brand new Windows Phone next year. Microsoft and HP have yet to confirm any of the claims, so it's best to take all of the reports with a pinch of salt.