Microsoft released their efforts into the tablet market a few months ago, but while North American users got to play around with the Surface, South African users have been left in the cold as to availability.
During Microsoft’s keynote address at its bi-annual Tech Ed conference being held in Durban, South African Managing Director Mteto Nyati excused himself from not being present, while welcoming delegates with a pre-recorded video message.
Nyati said that he was in Redmond, USA planning the next moves in Microsoft’s South Africa strategy.
On Wednesday Nyati tweeted that the Surface will indeed be coming to South Africa, while no other specifics have been made available other than it will be available in the second part of the year (Q3).
“@MicrosoftSA will launch Surface in the 2nd half of 2013 – responding to our customers,” Nyati tweeted.
Colin Erasmus, Head of Windows Business at Microsoft South Africa first broke the news to delegates during a session at Tech Ed, prompting many users to tweet in a flurry about the news.
No details such as price, availability or version have been announced, but it is widely believed that RT and Pro will be made available.
The tablet makes use of Windows 8, Microsoft’s redesigned operating system, and comes with an active keyboard cover that makes typing a lot easier. The Surface is aimed at competing with Apple’s highly-successful iPad. Originally unveiled in June, Surface with Windows RT was initially made available in three SKUs: a 32GB version priced at US$499, a 32GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at US$599, and a 64GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at US$699.
Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor
