There is a lot riding on the success of the Microsoft Surface Phone as it could make or break Microsoft's attempt to redeem itself in the mobile territory, but it looks like the tech giant has found its ace.
In a patent filed by Microsoft, it was revealed that the Redmond-based tech giant is working on an onscreen fingerprint scanner, a feature that no handset out there currently offers.
The fingerprint scanner is definitely becoming one of the norms in making a flagship handset. While Microsoft will join the fad, they will spice things up a bit to make the Microsoft Surface Phone stand out rather than fit in.
For the feature to function, the company will use a waveguide placed underneath the display of the smartphone. It will work alongside a filter which will allow sensors on the side of the handset to detect fingers on the glass.
Situating the fingerprint scanner on the display will allow Microsoft to save some room and ultimately give the Microsoft Surface Phone a much slimmer build.
Tech Radar also believes that the feature will be successful in terms of convenience since, in many devices, fingerprint scanners embedded the home button or the back of the device do not seamlessly work in one touch and they usually need more pressing to work to the point users become annoyed before they can unlock their phone.
However, since the display fingerprint scanner is only a patent, it is not certain if Microsoft will put it to use on the Microsoft Surface Phone or on any device for that matter.
Either way, it is still believed that the feature will certainly help the handset stand out from the sea of flagships with fingerprint scanners on their home buttons or under their camera lenses.
The Microsoft Surface Phone is expected to be released in spring next year. The company's latest venture into the mobile scene is a basic phone called the Nokia 216, which comes with a traditional design.
