The software maker's tablets will be available only with Wi-Fi at launch, according to Bloomberg published on Friday, June 22, 2012 said.

According to the report, two people familiar with the matter who declined to be identified because the full specifications of Surface are not yet made public said that the device will be equiped with a Wifi short-range connection only. Connections to mobile phone networks will not be available, initially.

Ben Bajarin, an analyst at technology consulting firm Creative Strategies reportedly told Bloomberg that Microsoft‘s decision to use Wifi-only models may enable it to keep the costs of the device down. However, Bajarin also said that it “could curtail” Microsoft‘s efforts to promote the device as something that can be used anywhere and in any way.

Meanwhile, Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at researcher Gartner Inc. told Bloomberg that Wifi-only is not a limitation for Surface. Milanesi reportedly said that most tablet customers are still using the devices mainly at home where they have Wifi because of concerns about the cost of monthly data plans on mobile phone connections.

The report also said that Microsoft has already contracted with Pegatron Corp, a Taiwanese company that assembles Apple‘s iPhones, to manufacture the Surface.