Microsoft Surface Phone news, release date: no MWC reveal expected, but late 2017 launch still on track?

The Microsoft Surface Phone is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 after the inclusion of the company at the event was announced.

Microsoft will be part of the event, but is yet to provide details on its presentation there. Since the affair is mobile-centric and a massive one at that, many hoped that the Surface Phone's unveiling could happen there.

However, several media outlets believe that the smartphone flagship will not turn up at the event. Instead, the Redmond-based giant is expected to put a spotlight on Windows 10.

Microsoft is also expected to show support for HP, who will release a midrange Windows 10 device at the MWC 2017, which would also explain the company's presence at the event.

HP is one of Microsoft's hardware partners, having released the HP Elite X3, the latest Windows device available and one that has received positive reviews from critics and users alike.

It looks like HP will be one of the companies to keep the Windows Phone alive while the Microsoft Surface Phone is being put together. The flagship is not expected to arrive until late next year.

There are even reports that it will turn up in early 2018 as Microsoft waits for the Redstone 3 update for Windows 10, which, among others, will allow the software and eventually the Surface Phone, to run desktop apps.

This was the only but glaring limitation of the Windows 10 Mobile, which somehow held back the HP Elite X3. Users were forced to find workarounds to make it possible.

Now, Microsoft is set to include x86 emulation as a full-on feature. However, it will take a while to be available. It looks like the company would like to debut it as well in the Microsoft Surface Phone.

The MWC 2017 will take place in Barcelona on Feb. 27 to March 2.