Microsoft invented the iPhone Duo back in 2009 [Video]

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Published: 2026-09-10T14:06:01.027Z • Permanent link

Microsoft's foray into the tablet market in 2009 was marked by the development of the Courier, a device that closely resembles the iPhone Duo. According to reports, the project was led by Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's then-Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, in collaboration with Jim Hall, the company's Director of User Experience. The Courier was designed to be a sleek, 8.9-inch touchscreen device that would allow users to easily navigate and interact with digital content. Although the device was never released to the public, it has been widely speculated that Microsoft's decision to abandon the project was due to the rapid development of the iPad, which was released just a few months later.

Microsoft's failure to capitalize on the tablet market was a significant setback for the company, which had invested heavily in the Courier project. The device was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2009, where it generated significant buzz among tech enthusiasts. However, despite its impressive design and features, the Courier failed to gain traction in the market, and Microsoft ultimately decided to discontinue the project. According to reports, the company had planned to release the Courier in 2010, but ultimately decided to focus on other projects.

The Courier project was also notable for its involvement of several prominent Microsoft executives, including Steve Ballmer, who was the company's CEO at the time. Ballmer had reportedly been a strong supporter of the project, and had even given the Courier a codename, "Lucas." Despite the project's failure, Microsoft continued to invest in the tablet market, releasing the Surface RT in 2012. However, the device was not as successful as the company had hoped, and Microsoft ultimately decided to discontinue the Surface RT in 2014.

The demise of the Courier project has significant implications for the Global Infrastructure domain, particularly in the context of the tablet market. The failure of Microsoft to capitalize on the tablet market has had a lasting impact on the industry, as several other companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Amazon, have gone on to dominate the market. According to a report by IDC, the global tablet market grew from just $1.4 billion in 2009 to over $140 billion in 2019. The success of these companies has also led to significant changes in the way that companies approach the development and marketing of tablets, with a greater emphasis on design, user experience, and ecosystem integration.

The impact of the Courier project's failure can also be seen in the way that companies approach the development of new devices and technologies. The failure of the Courier to gain traction in the market has led to a greater emphasis on iterative design and incremental innovation, rather than trying to create a completely new and innovative product. This approach has been successful for companies such as Apple, which has continued to iterate on its iPhone and iPad designs over the years, rather than trying to create a completely new product.

The demise of the Courier project is part of a larger pattern of innovation and disruption in the Global Infrastructure domain. The rise of the tablet market has been driven by several factors, including the development of new technologies, such as the Apple iPad, and the growing demand for mobile computing. However, the tablet market has also been shaped by several competing approaches, including the development of Android-based devices and the rise of the Chromebook. According to a report by Gartner, the global tablet market grew by 22% in 2019, driven by the success of Android-based devices and the rise of the Chromebook.