Microsoft opening retail stores this fall

Microsoft has finally addressed the rumours, and confirmed that they will be opening their own retail stores this Fall.

Rumours of Microsoft Retail Stores began in February, when the company hired former Walmart exec David Porter to be corporate vice president of retail stores. As if that wasn't enough of a confirmation, COO Kevin Turner spoke yesterday at the Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans and confirmed that retail stores will be opening come the Fall:

"Stay tuned, because we're going to have some retail stores opened up that are opened up right next door to Apple stores."

It will surely be interesting to see how similar Microsoft makes their stores in comparison to Apple's retail chain, and how their plans evolve as the fall approaches.