Microsoft to open first store in Australia

Sydney has been chosen as the first Microsoft flagship store to open outside of North America.

The store is due to open on November 12 in the Westfield Centre on Pitt Street Mall.

According to Pip Marlow, Managing Director of Microsoft Australia, the store will provide an opportunity to experience the best of Microsoft products, both hardware and software.

He has promised the experience consumers have come to expect from their technology companies - a hands-on opportunity to trial the merchandise.

"The space will be as much a place for engaging experiences as it is a retail store. It will complement our excellent retail partner network and be a natural extension of our existing online store."

Microsoft will be presenting for inspection products such as:

• Windows PCs
• Surface devices
• Windows Phones
• Xbox One
• Microsoft Office and other software

In addition the store will feature Answer Desk - a one-stop shop for questions, troubleshooting, repairs and support for all Microsoft hardware and software.

Marlow is also promising the store will give back to the community. The company has provided $50 million in software donations to Australia's not-for-profit community in the last year.

"We are also committed to being part of the fabric of the local community in which we'll operate. We will regularly donate volunteer hours, host community events, offer training workshops, support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and build deeper relationships with our customers, one person at a time."

Microsoft currently has more than 110 physical retail stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico; 17 store-in-store locations in China, and online stores in 189 countries. They will be the third global player, behind Apple and Samsung, to open a retail outlet in Sydney.