The tech industry is still waiting for Microsoft to make an official announcement regarding the much-awaited mobile device, the Surface Phone. Will Microsoft launch a new smartphone this year?

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella previously made the announcement at the Australian Financial Review last year, revealing that the "ultimate mobile device" is coming in 2017. Tech junkies believe the CEO's word, and are convinced the next-generation smartphones will be called the Surface Phone.

More recently, in a podcast interview with Marketplace's Make Me Smart, Nadella shared Microsoft's plan, "When you say we'll make more phones, I'm sure we'll make more phones, but they will not look like phones that are there today."

If Microsoft plans to launch a unique line of smartphones, as Nadella claims, then the Surface line will make the perfect brand for the device. Microsoft's Surface devices have not fallen short of innovation and uniqueness. Forbes points out that the Surface Book, Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio have all embodied Microsoft's new approach to technology.

Rumor has it the Surface Phone will come in three variants: a consumer edition, a business edition, and an enthusiast edition. Each variant caters to a specific type of consumer. The first variant will reportedly come with a flagship price. The business edition, on the other hand, will be a replacement for BlackBerry, reports say. And the last variant will be for power users or consumers who rely heavily on their handheld devices.

Forbes believes that the launch date of Redstone 3 is the perfect time for the tech company to unveil a smartphone with Windows 10 features.

Little is known about the Surface Phone. Microsoft has not made further announcements regarding the "ultimate mobile device;" thus, tech junkies should take the latest reports with a grain of salt.

More updates should arrive in the weeks to come.