Microsoft patents detachable, dual-screen smartphone

In what could be a bid to catch up with Apple's iOS and Google's Android, Microsoft has patented a design for a dual-screen detachable smartphone. In an application filed with the US Patent Office, Microsoft said that the mobile device will have a dual display that can have closed, open or detached configurations. "The separated first and second device can communicate wirelessly. The detachable second device allows a user to utilize the full capabilities of the mobile phone without having to remove the second device away from the user's ear, thus preserving the privacy of a phone call. The first and second displays can interact with each other or operate independently in the open, closed or detached configurations," Microsoft said of its design. Although the patent application was dated June 16, 2011, tech site TheNextWeb posted details of it only this week. The design includes cellular and wireless modems, and an accelerometer for detecting motion. Reasons for dual-screen setup Microsoft explained that, while the capabilities of modern smartphones have expanded, these extra functions may no longer fit on a small screen. "Mobile phone displays have increased in size to the point where they can now consume almost the entire viewing surface of a phone. To increase the size of displays any further would require an increase in the size of the phones themselves. This is not desirable, as users want their mobile phone to fit comfortably in their hand or in a shirt or pants pocket," the company reasoned. It pointed out that a user typically cannot use a phone's full capabilities while on a phone call, since a user cannot see a phone's display when the phone is held up to his or her ear. Earpieces may have disadvantages as a user needs to keep track of these additional components and wireless headsets must be charged prior to use, it noted. On the other hand, putting the phone on speakerphone mode involves notably increasing the speaker volume, compromising privacy. Windows phone 7 TheNextWeb said such a phone would "certainly stir the waters" in the industry, hinting it could provide the hardware that will make Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 system shine. "Now Windows Phone 7 is a lovely phone operating system, but as we have noted time and time again here at TNW, it runs on boring hardware. Microsoft desperately needs to come out with something ‘shiny’ enough to bring in the fashion conscious to the phone line," it said. — TJD, GMA News