Speaking to BBC News in advance of the launch of Windows 8 and Surface tomorrow, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer explained that the Redmond-based company will "obviously" create more hardware in the future.

"We have committed ourselves on a path where we will do whatever's required from both a hardware and a software innovation perspective," Ballmer explained.

"Is it fair to say we're going to do more hardware? Obviously we are. […] Where we see important opportunities to set a new standard, yeah we'll dive in."

Simmering beneath the surface

When Microsoft unveiled the Surface - which Ballmer described as the company's "first piece of non-Xbox hardware" - back in June 2012, the surprise announcement allegedly created a "sense of betrayal" among the company's OEM partners.

At the time, an industry source source told Reuters that "this has always been a point of contention between OEMs and Microsoft - Microsoft getting into the hardware space."

Ballmer's comments will be unwelcome news to Windows 8 / RT device manufacturers, then, but he was unequivocal: Microsoft's foray into Windows-based hardware will not be a one-off.

Epic

Indeed, speculation is mounting that Microsoft will eventually produce its own flagship Windows Phone 8 handset - perhaps a Surface smartphone to complement its tablet offering.

For his part, Ballmer clearly sees Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 as complementary products - and mobile as an important component of Microsoft's future.

"The launch of Windows 8 and Windows Phone is really an epic thing for Microsoft," Ballmer explained.

"It's right up there in the top two or three big moments including Windows 95 and the launch of the IBM PC, and it really starts us on this new era of computing: mobile, cloud."

[source: BBC News]