Microsoft is opening the doors today to its first flagship retail store outside the USA in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall. CRN took a sneak preview before the big day.
Microsoft is pitching the stores as “premier shopping destinations”, describing them as “cutting-edge spaces that represent the best of Microsoft”.
The store is more than 500 square metres over two floors on level two and three of Sydney's Pitt Street Mall in the CBD.
Similar to the Apple Store's Genius Bar, Microsoft’s stores will have an Answer Desk providing answers to technical questions and repairs, “regardless of device or where it was purchased”.
Microsoft’s newly announced Surface Book launches as a retail exclusive to the Microsoft store. Surface Book starts at $2,299.
Surface Pro 4 is also launching at the new store starting at $1,349. Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book are available to pre-order now.
It’s not just Surface that’s on sale. The Microsoft Store also stocks laptops, tablets and hybrids from Microsoft’s OEM partners such as Dell, Lenovo, HP and Asus.
Microsoft Band 2 is also launching at the Sydney store. The wearable fitness tracker goes on sale in "limited volumes" for $379.
Celebrity personal training team Base Body Babes are conducting a fitness workshop for the first 20 customers to purchase the Band 2.
Even though it's not available for purchase at the store, Microsoft is showing off its US$20,000 Surface Hub. The wall-mounted video-conferencing and digital whiteboard device is targeted towards businesses for collaborative work in boardrooms.
Microsoft's Community Theatre will host training sessions for enterprise customers and resellers on how to get the most out of using Microsoft products.
Customers can also get a hands on with Microsoft's latest smartphones ahead of their release later this year.
A range of games and accessories for Xbox One will be available from the Microsoft store. Xbox One consoles will be updated with a version of Windows 10 when the store opens.
As part of the Sydney store opening, Microsoft will donate nearly $5 million in software and technology grants to select local organisations.
The Sydney store was first revealed by Microsoft Australia managing director Pip Marlow in April this year. She said the store would “compliment our excellent retail partner network and be a natural extension of our existing online store.”
Microsoft is opening the doors today to its first flagship retail store outside the USA in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall. CRN took a sneak preview before the big day.