Bangalore:  For people who think Surface will be Microsoft’s last piece of hardware, it is not - at least according to Steve Ballmer, the Chief Executive of Redmond tech giant.

Microsoft’s CEO is expecting the lion’s share of all Windows devices to be sold by Microsoft’s partners in the coming five years. “With that said, it is absolutely clear that there is an innovation opportunity on the scene between hardware and software and that is a scene that must not go unexploited at all by Microsoft,” he said at a tech industry event in California.

Even though there were rumors about Microsoft building its own Smartphone, no strong evidence were available till now. The company’s tablet launch had surprised and irritated many, especially its hardware partner Acer, who openly criticized the move. However, the tablet has not yet worked any miracles, according to Ballmer’s own admission.

Related: 10 Biggest Microsoft Mistakes Ever

Meanwhile Nokia, Microsoft’s biggest Smartphone partner is dropping its market share continuously and now stands at the seventh position worldwide. If Microsoft set out on its mission to build a Smartphone, it would probably forecast the death of this Finnish handset maker, who presently shares a “special” relationship with Microsoft.