Microsoft brings Surface to new markets

Microsoft Surface lets users control their computer using hand movements and gestures

Microsoft announced at the CeBIT trade show today that it has increased the availability of its Surface computing platform, extending it to a further 12 markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Surface lets users control their computer using hand movements and gestures on a large touch-screen, and was previously available only in the US and Canada. It is now available in the UK, as well as other EMEA countries such as France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.

Microsoft said that it was responding to calls from enterprises looking to use the tool as a means of impressing customers and potential clients.

"Since our initial launch of Microsoft Surface, we have received an overwhelming response from companies worldwide looking for innovative ways to engage with their customers, and developers who want to create applications that were not possible with other technologies," said Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft Surface.

"We are excited to be entering into these new markets with partners who have already begun exploring the many possibilities of Microsoft Surface locally."

Microsoft also announced a partner ecosystem for Surface, including a number of companies hungry to provide complementary enterprise applications and solutions for the platform.

These partners include Avanade, which has developed solutions pitched at the retail market, and EMC, which has built a Surface tool based on Microsoft's own Fast enterprise search platform.

Microsoft will demonstrate further Surface solutions this Wednesday at the CeBIT event, which is being held in Hanover.