What you need to know
- A device that is likely the Surface Duo appeared in UL certifications recently.
- The certification means that the Surface Duo will likely ship to countries other than the United States.
- Concerns have grown over time that the Surface Duo could be a US-exclusive at launch.
Microsoft's Surface Duo continues to get certifications that indicate it's close to launch. First, we saw the Surface Duo in an FCC filing. Next, the device passed Bluetooth SIG certification. Now, the Surface Duo has appeared in UL LLC certifications, which indicate that the dual-screen device will likely ship outside of the United States.
As pointed out by Windows Latest, UL LLC is a global certification company. The Surface Duo appeared in Canada-based UL certifications, meaning there's a good chance the device won't be exclusive to the United States.
Windows Latest highlights that the model number in the UL certification is 1930, which matches the model number in Microsoft's filings for the Surface Duo with the FCC and its Bluetooth SIG certification.
Some have expressed concern regarding which countries the Surface Duo will launch in. Microsoft has never stated which countries the device will launch in and reports indicate that the launch will be limited and controlled. Additionally, the current global pandemic could affect Microsoft's inventory or affect the shipment process in other ways. Making phones work internationally also requires adding and supporting more bands.
While this UL certification does not confirm that the Surface Duo will launch in countries other than the United States, it makes an international launch seem more likely.
