Microsoft to Launch Surface Pro Pilot Program in the UK

Microsoft is looking into ways to extend channel distribution in the United Kingdom for its Surface Pro tablet, so the company will soon launch a pilot program with local partners.

The Channel writes that Insight, Kelway, Misco, SSC, and Computacenter will all take part in the test, as the Redmond-based tech giant is planning to attract more business customers in the country.

“It is a pilot, the reason we are calling it a pilot is that we want to make sure we get this right. There is a lot to do between now and then. We have a few partners that we can work really closely with, make sure we've got the right model, the size of demand of the market and scale out on that basis. That is how we are approaching it,” Janet Gibbons, director of partner strategy and programmes at Microsoft UK, was quoted as saying by the source.

The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s big bet aimed at business users, as it runs the full version of Windows 8 Pro and comes with support for desktop apps, just like a traditional laptop or desktop PC.