It was inevitable. A tablet launch, plus the announcement of a brand new mobile OS within a couple days of each other already had people speculating about a Microsoft smartphone.

Now there are rumours from people who know people in the know, suggesting that the speculation might come to fruition.

According to Investors.com “Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund says industry sources have told him that Microsoft may be working with a contract manufacturer to develop its own handset for its Windows Phone 8 software release.”

Take a look at that sentence again and you’ll see why we’re treating this information with a heavy pinch of salt right now.

“It is unclear to us whether this would be a reference platform or whether this may be a go-to market (Microsoft) branded handset,” said Sherland. A reference platform, by the by, is one that other manufacturers can copy but isn’t designed for the general public.

“We would not be surprised if (Microsoft) were to decide to bring their own handset to market next year given that (Microsoft) has decided to bring to market their own Windows 8 tablet-PC products,” Sherlund wrote.

I’m sure you and your “insider sources” wouldn’t be surprised Sherland.

Then again it’s not exactly the riskiest claim to make. If Microsoft does build a smartphone, then you get to shout “Told you so!” form the top of a building. If not, then you can just write it off by vaguely mumbling something about the reference platform having been put on hold during development.