Microsoft will continue to sell their Surface tablet online in Australia despite cutting deals to shift sales to major retailers Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi.
The US software company, who has struggled to attract consumers to the Windows based tablet, was forced to cut deals with mass retailers due to slow sales and the lack of a Microsoft retail store in Australia where the device could be demonstrated.
Steve Schueler, corporate VP of Microsoft retail sales and marketing said “Our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year. Based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier.”
In a separate development, Schueler said “based on the success of the Microsoft stores, the company will extend all of these locations into the New Year.” The stores will “transition into either permanent brick-and-mortar retail outlets or speciality store locations.”
Schueler did neither confirm nor deny that Microsoft is planning to open their own store in Australia with Sydney tipped to be the 1st location if the Company does go ahead in 2013 with an Australian store.
As for the Surface’s distribution, the company said that “as early as mid-December, consumers will be able to go to retail stores in Australia to purchase a Surface with Windows RT.” Additional availability will be added in more countries in the coming months, the company added.