Article by George Norman

On 06 Aug 2009

So far, the story on how Microsoft gets on Apple’s nerves is that the Redmond-based company will open retail stores next door to Apple’s this autumn – at least that is what Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner said at the WPC (Worldwide Partner Conference) in New Orleans last month. A leaked PowerPoint presentation has since then thrown a little light on how these retail stores will look like, but Microsoft made sure to announce that it is just a concept and the final design layout of the stores may differ.

And this is where the story stopped – but now additional details about Microsoft’s retail stores have surfaced. The location of the first two Microsoft retails stores has been confirmed: Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California. In keeping with Kevin Turner’s announcement that these stores will be opened “right next door to Apple stores”, the California Microsoft retail store is located in a mall that is already home to an Apple Store. The Scottsdale Microsoft retail store on the other hand is about 9 miles away from Scottsdale Quarter, the location where Apple opened its fifth Phoenix-metro store.


“Over a billion people use our products every day yet we don't always have a way to directly connect with them. We see the physical stores, as well as a consistent online experience, helping that. We're all very excited at Microsoft that we have a huge wave of innovation on the horizon. The stores are an opportunity absolutely to share with customers those technologies,” commented Microsoft spokesperson, Kim Stocks.

One other detail about the upcoming retail stores has also come to light: the logo Microsoft will use for these stores (image below). The Redmond-based software giant has filed a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office that will cover a handful of Microsoft goods and services, and I quote: “retail store services and online retail services featuring computers, computer hardware, software, computer games, computer peripherals, portable music players and accessories, personal digital assistants, cell phones and accessories, video game consoles and accessories, webcams, books, clothing, back packs, messenger bags, computer bags and novelty items.”

UPDATE: First image of a soon to be Microsoft retail store (below the logo).





Tags: Microsoft, Retail Stores, Apple, Logo

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