There has been speculation for some time now that Microsoft will put to bed the Lumia phone, and while it’s no secret that the company has been concentrating on other ambitions outside of phones, only just recently following the selling of its feature phone production business to Chinese manufacturing firm Foxconn for $350 million, have we heard something that tells us it’s most likely the end of the line for Lumia.

We can assume this due to something Microsoft said in a press release announcing the Foxconn deal. “Microsoft will continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile and support Lumia phones such as the Lumia 650, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, and phones from OEM partners like Acer, Alcatel, HP, Trinity and VAIO,” said Microsoft. It’s likely that these are the last of the Lumia phones.

It would not be a surprise if this is the end, considering Microsoft’s relationship with the Lumia brand has never really been anything but bad. In April when the company released its Q3 earnings Lumia sales were down a reported 73 percent for the year. There has been talk of Microsoft working on a Surface Phone, given how well the Surface line has been doing, but outside of branding one might wonder what Microsoft can do turn people away from Android phones and the iPhone.

Furthermore, in this leaked email to Microsoft execs obtained by Windows Central, Terry Myerson, head of Microsoft’s Windows and devices, mentions “next generation” products. There was no mention of Lumia phones.

“We are currently in development of our next generation products and I wanted to reconfirm our commitment to Windows 10 Mobile,” said Myerson, adding, “We have a device roadmap to support that from Microsoft as well as our OEM partners who will also be selling an expanded lineup of phone devices based on this platform.”

Windows Central believes that Microsoft will be looking to attract business customers with the rumored Surface Phone, a phone that will be the “most secure phone in the world” and also “the best phone for productivity”. There is also the added feature of Microsoft’s Continuum technology, which allows you to connect your phone to a larger display giving the user a PC-like experience.

Whether or not we believe in this dazzling Surface Phone, one thing seems for sure right now, and that’s goodbye Lumia.

Phone: r2hox via Flickr