Microsoft to Open Retail Stores

Look out Apple there a New Kid in town. It look like Microsoft wants to play head to head with Apple and open its own branded Stores. This is an interesting play, I wonder what the channel will say. Apple basically killed a lot of its channel when it opened stores. This will be tricky for Microsoft but with over 95% of it income coming from the channel this will need to be watched.

What if the Microsoft store are that place to look at new technology, Like surface, Play with Xbox, and Perhaps teach users about the Cloud Solutions. You know their need to be a experts zone.

I wonder could this also be the way that Microsoft Branded devices get announced. Hum….Maybe a Zune combo Device, New version of Home Server, I wonder what else Microsoft has up it sleeve.

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 12, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that David Porter will join the company as corporate vice president of Retail Stores. He will lead Microsoft’s efforts to create a better PC and Microsoft retail purchase experience for consumers worldwide through the development and opening of the company’s own retail stores. Porter will report to Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner. He is joining Microsoft from DreamWorks Animation SKG, where he was head of worldwide product distribution

Porter spent 25 years at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in roles of increasing responsibility and seniority in store operations, merchandising and information technology. In his last role at Wal-Mart, Porter was vice president and general merchandise manager of Entertainment, where he served as a strategic point of influence throughout the Wal-Mart business.

Hum… general merchandise manager of Entertainment. Maybe there going to be a new life in Xbox, PC games, Zune, and fun products at the Microsoft Stores….. Time will tell