Microsoft Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. It's the first commercially-available surface computing platform from Microsoft. The product provides effortless access to digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. Today, it's a 30-inch diagonal display in a table-like form factor that's easy for individuals or multiple people to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. In essence, it's a surface come to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Today Microsoft Surface is available in the retail, hospitality, automotive, banking and healthcare industries. Consumers can interact with Surface at the iBar located in the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and at select Sheratons in the U.S.
Led by Microsoft, surface computing is a major advancement that moves beyond the traditional user interface to a more natural way of interacting with information. It features four key attributes:
Microsoft Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and displayed using rear projection. Specifically:
Today, Microsoft Surface is a 30–inch diagonal display in a table–like form factor built for commercial reliability and durability. Over time, as we see surface computing becoming more pervasive inside and outside the home, Microsoft envisions many form factors (from a wall, to a mirror or even your refrigerator door).
Today consumers can interact with Surface at the iBar located in the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, at select Sheratons in the U.S., the Disney Innovations House in Anaheim, California and at Hotel 1000 in Seattle. In the future, other Surface deployments will continue in restaurants, retail, leisure and public entertainment venues.
Current Microsoft Surface customers include Harrah's Entertainment, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Microsoft Surface will also be made available through Microsoft's affiliation with International Game Technology (IGT), a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of microprocessor-based gaming.
Today we are focused on five vertical industries including retail, hospitality, automotive, banking, and healthcare, but over time we will expand to other areas as well as building out a consumer product for the home.
Microsoft Surface is currently available in the US, Canada and 12 select EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) markets. Working closely with partners to support local and relevant content, Microsoft Surface is now available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UK.
Currently Microsoft Surface is not available for individual consumer purchase. Microsoft Surface is being marketed and sold to large-scale leisure, entertainment and retail companies in the U.S. and people will be able to experience Microsoft Surface in public locations. If you are a large-scale leisure, entertainment or retail company looking to purchase Microsoft Surface please contact your existing Microsoft representative or email the Microsoft Surface business desk at sbizdesk@microsoft.com. Consumers will be able to purchase Microsoft Surface in about two to four years.
Microsoft Surface is currently not available for individual consumer purchase, nor is there a consumer pricepoint available. However, commercial companies interested in purchasing Microsoft Surface, or developers can learn how to purchase Microsoft Surface. A commercial Microsoft Surface unit is $12,500 (unit only), whereas a developer Microsoft Surface units costs $15,000 and includes a developer unit, support and five site licenses for access to the SDK. Please note that the prices listed above are for U.S. availability. For pricing in other markets, please contact the Microsoft Surface business desk at sbizdesk@microsoft.com.
Unfortunately, Microsoft Surface units are not available for rent, loan or lease.
Video demos are available on this site for individuals interested in learning more about Microsoft Surface. For commercial and enterprise customers interested in a demo at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, please contact your Microsoft sales representative.
If you are interested in becoming a distributor or reseller for Microsoft Surface, please contact the Microsoft Surface business desk at sbizdesk@microsoft.com.
Visit the How to Buy section of Surface.com to download the order form. For more questions on purchasing Microsoft Surface, please contact the Microsoft Surface business desk at sbizdesk@microsoft.com.
The Microsoft Surface team did offer a limited distribution of the Microsoft Surface SDK at PDC back in October to more than 600 developers. However, as a limited distribution, the SDK was only available to developers that either attended the "Developing for Microsoft Surface" session or stopped by one of the Microsoft Surface hands-on labs at the event.
We encourage developers to participate in the Microsoft Surface conversation through our blog on MSDN, as we are committed to growing a healthy Surface partner and developer ecosystem. Also, interested developers and partners can contact the Microsoft Surface business desk at sbizdesk@microsoft.com for more information about the SDK and future distribution availability.
We have an SDK for Microsoft Surface, and are working with a limited number of ISVs, commercial launch customers and a limited number of developers at this time in order to ensure the best possible end–user experience. We anticipate expanding the SDK to the broader developer and ISV community over time; however, the Microsoft Surface SDK is currently not widely available.
Microsoft applications, including virtual concierge, music and photo will be made available for our customers to use with their initial Microsoft Surface deployments. However, third–party and customized applications such as point of sale are being developed by our customers, ISV partners and their application development teams.