Microsoft Corp. is reportedly looking to unveil a new, smaller Surface tablet that, for the first time, will use processors from Qualcomm Inc.
The move will end Nvidia's support for Microsoft as a chip supplier, according to Bloomberg. The company's earlier versions of Surface featured Nvidia chips that use ARM Holdings, plc technology.
People with knowledge of Microsoft's plan who asked to remain anonymous, said the "Surface Mini" will be introduced on May 20 at an event in New York. They added that the company will also reveal other new Surface models at the event, some of which are powered by Intel Corp. chips.
Nokia's Lumia 2520 is the only other Windows RT-based tablet on the market, and also uses a Qualcomm chip, CNET reported.
The new Surface is set to be based on Windows RT, just as the Lumia 2520 is. The Qualcomm chip in Nokia's device provides 4G/LTE capability on AT&T and Verizon.
Microsoft was reported last June to have started developing a Surface based on Qualcomm, Bloomberg reported.
Emily Kilpatrick, a spokeswoman for Qualcomm, declined to comment on the move, Tuesday. Jill Bailey, a spokeswoman for Microsoft, and Ken Brown, a spokesman for Nvidia, also declined to comment on the report.
The report stated that the device will be available in stores by late June and will feature a click-in cover that supports multi-position kickstands. The tablet is also speculated to bring new variations of color to the Surface tablets, NDTV Gadgets reported.
Paul Thurrott of Windows IT Pro said Microsoft's new Surface will also feature stylus support and OneNote integration, the company's note-taking software.
Additionally, the tablet is reported to have an 8-inch display and be based on the ARM chipset, NDTV Gadgets reported.
The tablet will add to Microsoft's current line of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 Windows-powered tablets if it is released.
