- Microsoft Store
-
Microsoft Store 
Type Subsidiary Industry Computer hardware
Computer software
Consumer electronicsFounded October 22, 2009 Number of locations World: 14 stores
US: 14[1]Products Personal Computers, Smartphones, Xbox 360, Video Games, Zune devices and services
Computer Mice, Software & 3rd-party software and accessoriesParent Microsoft Corporation Website microsoftstore.com The Microsoft Store consists of fourteen retail stores and an online shopping site, and is owned and operated by Microsoft, dealing in computers, computer software and consumer electronics. The stores aim to "improve the PC and Microsoft retail purchase experience for consumers worldwide and help consumers make more informed decisions about their PC and software purchases."[2]
The Microsoft Store offers Signature PCs from third parties such as HP, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Sony without demos or trialware (pre-installed free trials of certain third-party software that expire after a limited time). It also offers Windows (most retail versions), Microsoft Office, mobile devices running the Windows Phone 7 OS, Zune devices and services, Xbox 360 consoles, games and services including on-site Xbox diagnostics. The Answers Desk helps to answer questions related to Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products. The stores also offer class sessions as well as individual appointments.
The first two Microsoft Stores opened within a week of the Windows 7 launch, in Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California.[3] Additional stores have since opened in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas and Washington. At the 2011 PDC, Microsoft announced that they intend to open 75 new stores in the next three years.[4]
Contents
History
Microsoft's first experience with a retail store was called microsoftSF, which was located in the Metreon in San Francisco. It was owned and operated by Sony Retail Entertainment,[5] and ran from 1999[6] to 2001.[7]
In 2009, Microsoft built a "Retail Experience Center" in their Redmond, WA headquarters[8] and announced plans to build its own retail stores.[9] On October 22, 2009, the same day as the Windows 7 launch, Microsoft opened a retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona. A week later, another opened in Mission Viejo, California. Five additional stores were opened in 2010. A ninth store opened in Atlanta in May 2011, with two more openings planned in Houston and Los Angeles by the end of June.
Shopping experience
The Microsoft Store is similar to the popular Apple Store concept, which has been largely successful.[10] The concept aims to give a greater level of customer satisfaction by not only having sales staff but also employing "Technical Advisors" (similar to Apple's "Geniuses") to assist customers with technical questions and issues. In addition "Specialists" (or trainers) are employed to show customers how to get the most out of their software. Microsoft Surfaces and Xbox 360s are also available to entertain patrons.
Store locations
City State Mall Opened Scottsdale 
ArizonaScottsdale Fashion Square October 22, 2009 Mission Viejo 
CaliforniaThe Shops at Mission Viejo October 29, 2009 Lone Tree 
ColoradoPark Meadows Mall June 10, 2010 San Diego CaliforniaFashion Valley Mall June 24, 2010[11] Oak Brook 
IllinoisOakbrook Center November 4, 2010[12] Bloomington 
MinnesotaMall of America November 6, 2010[13] Bellevue 
WashingtonBellevue Square November 18, 2010[14] Costa Mesa CaliforniaSouth Coast Plaza March 24, 2011 Atlanta 
GeorgiaLenox Square May 27, 2011 Houston 
TexasThe Galleria June 23, 2011 Los Angeles CaliforniaWestfield Century City June 30, 2011 Seattle WashingtonUniversity Village October 20, 2011[1] Santa Clara CaliforniaWestfield Valley Fair November 10, 2011[1] McLean 
VirginiaTysons Corner Center November 17, 2011[1] Microsoft Store Online
United States version of the Microsoft Store
Microsoft Store is the online store of Microsoft and is the successor of Windows Marketplace, also owned and operated by the company. The online store sells Microsoft software and hardware, as well as Microsoft Signature PCs and select third-party software. Microsoft Signature PCs are computers from various manufacturers pre-loaded with Windows Live Essentials, Zune software, Adobe Reader & Flash, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Silverlight. Besides the online storefront, items from the store can be ordered by phone. The website has 13 international variations for Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States. The stores in Europe are able to accept orders from, and ship to other European countries as well.
The Microsoft Store offers immediate software download options of some Microsoft software products in most[which?] regions.
References
- ^ a b c d "Microsoft Store Locations". Microsoft. http://store.microsoft.com/Locations. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ "Microsoft Appoints David Porter as Corporate Vice President of Retail Stores" (Press release). Microsoft. 2009-02-12. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/feb09/02-12CVPRetailStoresPR.mspx. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Microsoft News (2009-08-07). "Behind these walls in Scottsdale & Mission Viejo, the first Microsoft retail stores". Twitter. http://twitter.com/Microsoft/status/3182313977. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Microsoft will open 75 new stores within 3 years
- ^ "Microsoft Debuts microsoftSF Retail Environment At San Francisco's Metreon Sony Entertainment Center" (Press release). Microsoft. 1999-06-16. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1999/Jun99/microsoftSFpr.mspx. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Brown, Janelle (1999-06-29). "The consumer incarnation of Microsoftiness". Salon. http://www.salon.com/technology/feature/1999/06/29/microsoft_store/. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Junnarkar, Sandeep (2001-11-01). "Xbox due, Microsoft exits Sony-owned mall". CNET News. http://news.cnet.com/Xbox-due,-Microsoft-exits-Sony-owned-mall/2100-1040_3-275258.html. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Miller, Paul (2009-01-13). "Microsoft builds pretend retail store, wants to play house later". Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/microsoft-builds-pretend-retail-store-wants-to-play-house-later/. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Lilly, Paul (2009-02-13). "It's Official: Microsoft Brand Store Fronts Coming Soon". MaximumPC. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/its_official_microsoft_brand_store_fronts_coming_soon. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Olivarez-Giles, Nathan (2010-11-26). "For some, the Microsoft Store concept is a puzzle". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/print/2010/nov/26/business/la-fi-microsoft-stores-20101126. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
- ^ Morrow, Chris (2010-06-24). "Apple/Microsoft SHOWDOWN in San Diego". CNN iReport. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-464661. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Schering, Steve (2010-11-10). "Microsoft opens new store at Oakbrook Center". The Doings Oak Brook (Sun-Times Media). http://www.pioneerlocal.com/oakbrook/news/2866228,oak-brook-microsoft-110410-s1.article. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Biggs, John (2010-10-05). "Microsoft Builds Microsoft Store Across From The Apple Store In Mall Of America". Crunchgear. http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/10/05/microsoft-builds-microsoft-store-across-from-the-apple-store-in-mall-of-america/. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- ^ Chan, Sharon Pian (2010-11-18). "Microsoft Store in Bellevue opens with glitter, glitz". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013470212_microsoftstore19.html. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
External links
Categories:- Microsoft divisions
- Retail companies of the United States
- Consumer electronics retailers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
