Microsoft China has some good news for its customers: the Surface Pro tablet will launch there on April 2, making China the first market outside the U.S. and Canada to receive the device. The announcement comes amid Microsoft's efforts to expand Surface RT distribution to additional Chinese retailers.
Microsoft has stated it is taking a "phased approach" to Surface Pro rollouts, and the company recently signed a new agreement with Chinese firm Tmail to help bolster its online retail presence.
"We are excited to partner with more leading retailers, to expand Surface RT sales distribution in China, and allow more Chinese customers experience and buy the innovative product easily. With emphasis and commitment to the China market, Microsoft keeps expanding sales and service network for better experience," said Microsoft Greater China Region CEO Ralph Haupter in the press release.
In additional to launching an online Microsoft Store through Tmail, Microsoft will be relying on partner Suning to handle a large bulk of storefront retail sales.
The official Microsoft Surface Pro page doesn't have much in the way of details, but Chinese site WPDang did a little digging and was able to unearth pricing details. The 64GB Surface RT will sell for 6,588 Chinese Yuan, which is about $1,061. The 128GB unit will retail for 7,388 Yuan, which translates to $1,189. Both price points come without the cover included.
According to Engadget, Microsoft has previously said that the Surface Pro will go on sale in China around the same time it is slated for release in Australia, some European countries and elsewhere. So hopefully today's announcement means users in those countries can look forward to a shiny new Surface Pro in their immediate future.
