Sydney to get first Microsoft flagship store outside US

Microsoft has picked Sydney as the location for its first flagship store outside North America, the company announced today.

Interior of one of Microsoft's US stores. Source: vendor.

The flagship store will be situated in the Westfield shopping centre in Pitt St Mall and carry the same range of products and services as Microsoft's outlets overseas, Australian managing director Pip Marlow said in a blog post.

An 'answer desk' for customer questions, repairs and troubleshooting, similar to Apple's Genius Bar, will also be available.

Apple opened its first Australian retail store in Sydney in 2008, on the corner of King and George Streets, and has since added another 20 shops throughout the country.

Microsoft declined to reveal how much it is spending on the Sydney store, how many staff it will employ, or the exact opening date.

The company said it has 110 stores in North America and Puerto Rico, and 17 store-in-store locations in China.