Microsoft stores coming this fall

The first retail stores from Microsoft will open this fall, according to the company’s chief operating officer.

Kevin Turner said as much to attendees at the Worldwide Partners Conference today, ZDNet reports. He didn’t disclose many more details than that, but said partners will share in the knowledge Microsoft gleans from running the stores.

Microsoft announced its retail ambitions in February, but didn’t get into the nitty gritty then, either. A mock retail location at company headquarters (pictured) appeared to emphasize interactivity, with lots of things to play with. Comparisons to the Apple Store were inevitable.

As with before, questions remain on how many locations will open, a firm timeframe for opening and how much of Microsoft’s product line will be for sale.

It does appear that Microsoft will try to muscle in on Apple’s turf somewhat. "As we progress on our retail strategy there will be scenarios where we have stores in proximity to Apple," a representative told ZDNet.

However, ZDNet writes that the stores will be "more showcases than actual retail outlets," according to unnamed sources. Of course, that could simply mean they will focus on entertainment products such as the Xbox 360 and Zune, rather than stocking every consumer product Microsoft makes. I really doubt that a Microsoft retail store wouldn’t actually sell anything.