Microsoft has filed a patent application titled “Smart interface system for mobile communication devices”. The application describes a docking station that will allow a smartphone to work as PC with full peripherals support. Microsoft says that the intelligent cradle (docking station) would act as an interface between the mobile device and the PC peripherals.
Many similar patent applications have been filed but what makes this application different is that the docking station contains processer, storage and embedded OS. The docking station will translate the signals from the phone to external hardware and vice-versa. The docking station will effectively add processing power to the phone so that it can be used as a PC replacement.
According to Microsoft, intelligent cradle will allow smartphones to work with hundreds of peripherals like mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, camera, optical drive and set-top boxes.
The concept is very interesting and can be very useful, but like many other concepts shown by Microsoft when it will actually be implemented no one knows.