Microsoft Surface Expands Availability to 12 EMEA

Yesterday at CeBIT, Microsoft Corp. announced expanded commercial
availability of Microsoft Surface to 12 select markets in Europe,
Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and has broadened its developer partner
ecosystem to support those additional markets with local, relevant
content. Previously available for purchase by companies in the U.S.
and Canada, Microsoft Surface is now also available in Austria,
Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain,
Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K.

Microsoft Surface, the first commercially available surface computer
from Microsoft, is a revolutionary surface computing platform that
responds to natural hand gestures and to the placement of real-world
objects on the display. With a large, 360-degree, horizontal user
interface, Microsoft Surface creates a unique gathering place where
multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with
information, content and physical objects, communicating with each
other in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. In
addition, Microsoft Surface enables companies to attract and convert
new customers as well as cross-sell products and services, drive
customer loyalty, and achieve operating efficiencies.

"Since our initial launch of Microsoft Surface, we've received an
overwhelming response from companies worldwide that are looking for
innovative ways to engage with their customers and developers who want
to create applications that were not possible with other
technologies," said Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft Surface.
"We're excited to be entering into these new markets with partners
that have already begun exploring many possibilities of Microsoft
Surface locally."

Growing Partner Ecosystem
Microsoft Surface is at the forefront of the evolution to the Natural
User Interface (NUI), a new and intuitive way to interact with
technology that uses touch and hand gestures. With Microsoft Surface,
users have an entirely new way to interact with digital content, while
businesses are able to gain operational efficiencies and have new ways
to connect with their customers. As content and applications provide
the real context of the Microsoft Surface experience, developers are a
critical component to enabling unique scenarios. In addition, a robust
partner ecosystem will provide businesses with a wide variety of new
Microsoft Surface applications and compelling solutions specific to
their needs.
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