Microsoft: First Branded Tablets; Next, Their Own Smartphone? - Forbes

Microsoft still has a serious retail store count deficit, compared to Apple (~20 Microsoft stores versus 363 for Apple as of January, 2012, according to this Wikipedia article), but if Microsoft is determined to directly compete with Apple in consumer devices, perhaps it will offer its own smartphone (tbd if a TV display will follow...)

"Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund told investors this morning that he has learned that Pegatron is also working on a handset for Microsoft. The project isn’t likely to be completed until 2013, he says, but it could result in a new twist in the battle for control of the mobile phone market.
In an interview with Forbes this afternoon, Sherlund says the project could be a reference design for other handset makers – or it could be something they intend to take to the market: a Microsoft-branded smartphone."

Microsoft: First Branded Tablets; Next, Their Own Smartphone? - Forbes