Microsoft has announced expansion plans for the Surface with Windows RT and Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablets.
In a recent blog post Microsoft Surface Director Cyril Belikoff announced that the tablets will start to sell via commercial channels in the U.S. and abroad.
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The 17 countries that will see the commercial release of the Surface tablets are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
"In addition to offering Microsoft's extended warranty and accidental damage, resellers bring a variety of additional value-added services to the Surface family, such as asset tagging, custom imaging, kitting, onsite service and support, device recycling and data protection. But we're not stopping here," wrote Belikoff. "We're committed to authorizing a select set of additional partners in these markets in the coming weeks."
It was also announced that the Outlook app will make its debut with the Surface with Windows RT. The app was previously exclusive for the Surface with Windows 8 Pro but will accompany the Surface with Windows RT tablets due to the Windows 8.1 update. A preview for Windows 8.1 is currently available.
The commercial launch of the Surface tablets arrives as a lawsuit was filed against Microsoft about the sales and performance of the Surface with Windows RT.
As Latinos Post reported, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announced the lawsuit on behalf of "purchasers of Microsoft Corporation common stock" on Aug. 12. The complaint noted Microsoft issued false and misleading statements about the financial performance of the Surface with Windows RT tablet. The plaintiffs are seeking to recover damages on behalf of the Microsoft common stock purchasers during the Class Period of April 18 and July 18 this year.
Microsoft has not issued a comment in regards to the lawsuit.
Preview to Windows 8.1
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