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June 13th, 2013 
Peter Nolan 
Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet with Windows 8.
(Credit:
Microsoft)
Microsoft has cut a deal to open Windows stores within 500 Best Buy locations in the United States and 100 more Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Canada.
The store-within-a-store sites, which will be 1,500 square feet to 2,200 square feet, will offer a wide selection of Windows
tablets and PCs, Windows Phones,
Microsoft Office, and
Xbox consoles. There will also be space set aside specifically for Microsoft’s Surface tablet computers.
The deal also calls for more than 1,200 Best Buy sales staff to receive Microsoft training, in addition to the Microsoft specialists already on staff at Best Buy.
“We’re pleased to partner with Best Buy in bringing the latest technologies to consumers at scale in a unique environment where they can explore how Microsoft products fit together across entertainment, travel, music and other scenarios,” Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of the Windows Division, said in a statement Thursday.
Best Buy already offers Apple stores-within-stores at many locations. Its partnership with Apple began a decade ago, when the retailer started selling Macs at its locations.
Best Buy will start to roll out the Windows stores later this month, and continue throughout the summer.
Since the launch of Windows 8 last fall, Microsoft has been criticized, even by some partners, for confusing customers by offering two types of tablet – one running Windows 8, the other with Windows RT. Having Microsoft-trained staff at one of the largest electronics retailers in the country could mitigate some of that confusion.
Best Buy is also rolling out an online version of the Windows store-within-a-store, creating a Web site where consumers can find information about promotions.
The companies didn’t disclose terms of the partnership.
Updated at 9:40 a.m. PT with more details from the announcement.
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