The public may have to wait until 2017 before Microsoft introduces its first Surface Phone.

According to previous reports, Microsoft will launch Surface Phone this year. However, recent reports suggest that the phone will not come until next year.

While the release date of the Microsoft Surface Phone remains uncertain, talks about its specs continue to build up. There are speculations that the Windows 10 handset will target the enterprise sector and will have business-centric features.

Rumors about the Surface Phone being a phone for work stemmed from Windows Corporate VP Kevin Gallo's previous statement that Microsoft is not going to abandon Windows Mobile. Since Windows desktops aim at high-end professional market, there are speculations that the Surface Phone will go under the same category as well.

Surface Phone is also rumored to come with Snapdragon 830 or Kaby Lake processor, and to have three variants: 3GB RAM/ 32GB, 6GB RAM/ 128GB and 8GB RAM/ 500GB. There are also mentions of a 5.7-inch Quad HD display and a 20 MP camera built by Carl Zeiss.

Considering its specifications, it is possible that Surface Phone will not be launched alongside Surface Pro 5. Instead, it will come sometime in 2017, since Microsoft might still be waiting for the Redstone update to bring richer feature in the new mobile phone.

The base model of Surface Phone is expected to come with a $699 price tag.

Since the two currently available platforms, Android and iOS, already have already proven their worth in delivering versatile and affordable devices for common users and professionals, the public has yet to know if the Microsoft Surface Phone will manage to survive the competition when it arrives next year.