Microsoft Set To Launch Surface Tablet In Japan

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Microsoft Corp. will begin selling its Surface tablet computer in Japan as early as next month, The Nikkei learned Saturday.

The company launched the device, its first tablet, in the U.S., China and elsewhere in October last year and now sells it in about 20 countries.

The Japan release of the Surface will pit the U.S. company against domestic makers selling computers powered by the Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system, such as Fujitsu Ltd. (6702) and Sony Corp. (6758).

The tablet is expected to run on the Windows RT operating system, a cheaper version of Windows 8.

Overseas, a 32GB Surface RT tablet is priced at $499, compared with the $599 for a comparable iPad tablet from Apple Inc. In Japan, the 32GB model is expected to be priced at about 50,000 yen.

The display is 10.6 inches, slightly larger than that of the iPad. The Microsoft tablet includes a cover embedded with a keyboard, so it can be used like a notebook PC.

(The Nikkei, Feb. 24 morning edition)

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