Last year, when asked on Reddit whether Microsoft would make its own dock for the Surface, Microsoft execs said that was not in the plans.

But it looks as if they've had a change of heart, given the latest leaks from anonymous sources.

Microsoft is readying a docking station that will work with both the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2, according to reports on Neowin.Net and the Windows SuperSite.

(Note: As with several previous leaks about the next-generation Surfaces and peripherals, Microsoft officials aren't commenting. But from what I've heard/seen, these leaks seem to be right on the money.)

The coming dock will allow users to connect to an external monitor, Ethernet and USB devices, blogged Windows SuperSite editor Paul Thurrott on September 6. The dock will include one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports, he said.

While docked, Surface Pros and Surface Pro 2 will charge automatically, according to the reports.

Microsoft hasn't announced when it will take the wraps off its next-generation NVIDIA-based Surface 2 and Haswell-based Surface Pro 2 devices , but many are expecting this will happen on or around October 18, which is when the company will make Windows 8.1 generally available.

Microsoft is working on new keyboard/covers for current and future Surfaces, including a new Power Cover that will provide extra battery-life for Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2 devices, according to earlier leaks.

So far, there's been no word on how much Microsoft plans to charge for any of the new, expected Surface peripherals.