In the midst of iPhone’s recent launch, Microsoft has announced its new entry into the mobile device market. The Surface Duo, a dual-screen device running on Android will be coming in late 2020. While the Duo looks and acts like a phone, we talk about Microsoft’s strategy to not call it one. Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Mobile is an early hit surpassing 35 million downloads in less than a week. Read all about it in this week’s Mobile Monday!
Is Microsoft’s Surface Duo a Phone or Not?
Microsoft announced last week that it will be releasing the Surface Duo, a dual-screen device that will run on Android. The device has phone functionality and is a counterpart to their tablet, the Surface Neo, both of which are expected to release during the holiday season in 2020. The duo features dual 5.6-inch displays attached by a 360-degree hinge with full access to the Google Play Store. There are still many details about the Surface Duo that are yet to be revealed. Details on pricing, 5G capability, and which Android operating system it will run on are all still up for speculation.
While the Surface Duo is widely referred to as a phone, Microsoft has decidedly avoided calling it one. A Microsoft representative told CNet that the Duo is more than a phone because it brings together “the best of Microsoft productivity experiences, Android apps, and Surface hardware design into a single device.” The decision to not brand it as a smartphone could be due to their shortcomings with previous Windows phones. If the Surface Duo is Microsoft’s attempt to repair its reputation in the smartphone space, then maybe integrating Android is the right solution.
Call of Duty: Mobile Reaches #1 Spot on the App Store
Activision Blizzard announced that its recently launched title, Call of Duty: Mobile, has surpassed 35 million downloads in less than a week. According to the company, it is the fastest first or third-person shooter game on Android or iOS to reach this milestone. Developed by Tencent Games’ TiMi Studios, the game reached the #1 app ranking on App Store based on downloads in over 100 countries. While Activision Blizzard has not shared figures, Sensor Tower estimates that the game made more than $2 million in its first two days.
Call of Duty: Mobile was released on October 1st in all Apple App Store and Google Play regions except for mainland China, Vietnam, and Belgium. The free-to-play game has classic multiplayer modes like Team Deathmatch and also includes a battle royal mode. With these impressive numbers, it’s possible that other mobile shooter games like Fortnight and Battlegrounds will be seeing some of their users fall off.
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