14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is gearing up for the grand opening of its first retail store in Canada next month, the latest reports on the matter suggest.
Apparently, the store will be opened for the public on November 16th, while being located in at the Yorkdale Centre in Toronto, On.
Microsoft has already confirmed plans to set up a series of retail locations around the world to better promote its products, and it appears that the Canadian store will be the first of a line of other international stores the company has plans for.
“Big news, Toronto! Our Microsoft location at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre will open on Friday, November 16th,” Microsoft Store posted on Facebook.
At the moment, Microsoft has a total of 23 stores opened around the United States, and is aiming at adding some 21 more before June 2013.
All 44 retail locations will sell Microsoft products ranging from Windows and Office software to Microsoft hardware, as well as PCs that are powered by the company’s platform.
These laptops and desktops are Signature devices, which means they sport a vanilla copy of Windows pre-installed on them, while lacking any of the traditional software that OEMs usually load on their products.
Rumor has it that Microsoft is aiming at opening some more similar stores before the end of the year, including one in Puerto Rico, along with other locations this holiday season, as Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer, confirmed back in July.
Moreover, the Redmond-based giant is expected to continue the expansion next year mainly internationally, with a London retail location said to be added to the series in March 2013.
Other stores will follow, it seems, as Microsoft is set to have a total of 75 own retail places opened in the next two years or so.
"Microsoft Store brand will become more pervasive and go out into the world," Turner said during the Worldwide Partner Conference on July 11, ZDNet reported.
Microsoft’s move is determined by its ambition to better compete with Apple on all fronts, as Steve Ballmer, the company’s CEO, said a few months ago. At the moment, Apple has over 300 stores operating around the world.