Microsoft Wants to Make Your Smartphone Even Smarter

Posted 02/02/2009 at 2:43pm | by Mark Edward Soper

4

Comments

Print

Been admiring those sleek new netbooks, but you already sank your ready cash into a smartphone? If Microsoft's patent application is approved, you might already have half a netbook. As reported by The Register, Redmond has applied for a patent on a so-called "Smart Interface System for Mobile Communication Devices," which would transform your humble smartphone into the practical equivalent of a netbook. According to El Reg:

Although similar features have already been seen in existing cradles, Microsoft’s model would be equipped with a dedicated processor and memory. This would be used for storing and executing the on-board OS and an application for handling communication between the phone, peripherals and other connections, such as Wi-Fi.

Microsoft's patent application says that the device will use USB and "other suitable connector interfaces," and is designed to connect to TVs, monitors, mice, keyboards, printers, drives, and networks.  There's a long way between a patent application and real hardware, but what would make you more (or less) likely to give a real-world version of this a careful look? Hit Comment and sound off.

Illustration based on drawing courtesy The Register.