In January Microsoft enthusiast Long Zheng blogged about the “Microsoft Retail Experience Center”, a 20,000 square foot fake store located on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington that simulates the entire retail experience from “from point of service to receiving dock” using and selling Microsoft products. Zheng asked why couldn’t Microsoft use this fake store as a template to emulate Apple’s very successful retail stores.
Microsoft executives must have asked the same question, today they announced the hiring of David Porter as corporate vice president of Retail Stores with one aspect of his job being to open MS branded retail stores.
Will these stores be the domain of fancy Windows laptops, Zunes, Xbox 360s and Window Mobile devices, or will Microsoft also focus on software? Will they have their own Experts on hand?