Microsoft (Redmond, Wash.) will open its first flagship retail store outside the U.S. in Sydney. The store will be located at Westfield Sydney on the prestigious and highly-trafficked Pitt Street Mall. Microsoft is also in the process of opening its New York flagship on Fifth Avenue. Currently there are about 110 smaller Microsoft stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
Opening dates for both flagships have not yet been announced, but they are expected to be open for the Christmas holiday shopping season.
According the Australian Financial Review, the store will serve as a high-profile showcase for mobile devices including Surface tablets and Lumia smartphones, as Microsoft attempts to win over some of the market currently dominated by Apple and Google Android products. The location will also serve as a showcase and support site for Windows PCs, Xbox One and Office applications as Microsoft prepares to launch its new Windows 10 operating system this fall.