Microsoft Surface Pro Given May UK Release Date

The Microsoft Surface Pro will be released in the UK by the end of May, Microsoft has confirmed.

The Windows 8 Pro-based version of the tablet was released in the US in February, but has so far only found its way to Canada and China since then.

“We know it took us a while to get back to you, but we hear you, and are excited to be able to provide an update on the countries where Surface RT and Surface Pro will be launching in May and June,” said Brian Hall, General Manager of Microsoft Surface, who added that details regarding launch events, pricing and retail availability would be revealed at a later date.

Microsoft Surface Pro

The Microsoft Surface RT, which runs on ARM-based architecture, was released in the UK last October and has so far been released in 24 countries, with Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea and Thailand all set to get their hands on the tablet by June.

The Surface Pro, running on an x86 processor will also be launched in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, Microsoft said.

However reports have suggested that Microsoft is already working on smaller seven-inch Windows tablets to compete with the likes of Apple, Google and Amazon. Such plans were apparently not part of the company’s original tablet strategy last year, but the popularity of the form has caused Microsoft to rethink.

A refreshed line-up of Microsoft Surface tablets will take on increasing importance given that sales of PCs are at the lowest ever level since records began, with part of the blame attributed to Windows 8.

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