Microsoft Tablet Sells Out in U.K.

The 32-Gbyte version of the Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) Surface tablet without the Touch Cover has sold out in the U.K. The sold-out tablet lists for $599 in the U.S. and £399 in the U.K. That’s about $50 more in the U.K.

According to a report at ZDNet, the actual number of units sold in the U.K. is unknown nor is it known when this particular version will be available again. The 32-Gbyte tablet with the Touch Cover is still available to order at £479. ZDNet also said that the U.S. and German online shops still have the sold-out version of the tablet available.

The Surface tablet officially goes on sales beginning this Friday, along with Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 operating system and its Windows Phone 8 smartphone operating system. The company is trying to strengthen its position in the market for mobile devices, now controlled by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK), which will use Windows Phone 8 in its latest smartphones, also has a lot at stake in the launch of the new Microsoft operating systems.

Microsoft’s shares are trading down about 2.1% at $28.03 in a 52-week range of $24.30 to $32.95.

Paul Ausick