Microsoft eyes pop-up stores to boost tablet sales

Microsoft has begun recruiting employees for more than two dozen temporary holiday shops as it gears up to sell its new Surface tablet computer. The US tech giant on Monday had job listings posted for retail operations for at least 30 shopping centers and urban center locations in the United States. Microsoft is seeking retail store managers and other personnel for its "Microsoft Holiday Stores," but has released no specifics on how long these shops would be operational or what they would sell. The company, which has been in the process of opening permanent retail stores in several US cities, is seeking to break into the competitive market for tablet computers with Surface, set to be released October 26. Microsoft has said the device would be sold online and through its own retail stores in the US market. Surface, which will compete against the market-leading iPad and others, features a flip-out rear "kickstand" to prop it up like a picture frame and a cover that, when opened, acts as a keypad so tablets could be switched into "desktop" mode for work tasks.