Microsoft is expanding distribution of its Surface tablet/PC devices via authorized distributors and resellers, company officials announced on July 1.
Starting in the U.S.,
Microsoft is authorizing CDW, CompuCom, En Pointe, Insight, PC
Connection, PCM, Softchoice, Softmart, Software House International and
Zones to sell Surface Pro and RT devices. "Over the next few months,"
Microsoft officials said they will authorize commercial distributors and
resellers in more countries.
Microsoft also plans to expand its education offer for the Surface RT -- offering devices for $199 via qualifying schools and universities purchasing direct from Microsoft -- into the commercial channel starting with the U.S. resellers "in the coming weeks," officials said today.
Authorized Surface resellers will be able to offer Microsoft's
extended warranty, as well as their own services, including asset
tagging, custom imaging, kitting, onsite service and support, device
recycling and data protection, according to Microsoft.
When Microsoft launched the Surface RT, it originally launched in
eight markets, only three of which had physical stores. Microsoft
officials said Surfaces are currently available in 29 markets and
10,000-plus physical stores worldwide.
Microsoft also unveiled on July 1 a new independent software vendor
(ISV) program, AppsForSurface, which will be providing devices and
funding for app design of key enterprise apps for Surface and Window 8.
ISVs already signed up include Citrix, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Sage
and healthcare developer Airstrip, Microsoft officials said.
Microsoft has been stepping up its Surface discount deals as of late.
There's still no word on when the Softies plan to add new Surface
devices to its current mix, but sources have indicated that Microsoft
plans to field an eight-inch mini Surface device some time this year.
There's no official word as to when or even if Microsoft plans to add
Haswell-based Intel Surface devices to its line-up.
Update: It does look as though the 256 GB Surface
Pro models will be added to the Surface stable. CDW has a page listing
them for $1,199.99 (with no cover), with availability noted as four to
six days. The 256 GB model debuted in Japan in June.
This could be the new low-cost iPhone, encased in plastic instead of metal and adorned with cartoonish colors.
So far it's an enigma wrapped in a rumor based on speculation, but
there's a bit of evidence behind this alleged leak of the low-cost
iPhone.
On Saturday, a picture of a green version of this alleged iPhone surfaced, but now there's an additional leak. In these pics from Chinese site Weiphone.com,
the green shell has found a couple of friends in yellow and pinkish
red, all adorned with an official-looking iPhone logo at the bottom and
the iconic Apple logo in its usual position.
They're all shaped like the iPhone 5, and here's another tantalizing piece of evidence: Website NoWhereElse.fr
[French] compared these shells with the alleged iPhone 5S motherboard
leaked in mid-June, and found that all of the attachment points match up
perfectly:
The idea of a cheaper iPhone is compelling — analysts say it could
grab 11% of the low-end smartphone market within its first year on the
market. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said in April
that an entry-level iPhone might ship this September, and he thinks its
price tag might be around $300 unsubsidized. That price is a far cry
from the $649 of an iPhone 5.
The lively colors will certainly appeal to those who have become
bored with the choice of only a black or white iPhone. In addition,
those who think the current iPhone 5 is too fragile might be attracted
to this plastic casing, and such a construction could be significantly
lighter at the same time.
What do you think? Are these leaked photos the real thing, or is it all a hoax? Let us know in the comments.
9:01:00 AM
valgeo
