Microsoft announces dates for European Surface Pro launches

We already knew that Surface Pro was coming to Europe, but what we didn't know was exactly when. The company today announces the dates for availability, and the rollout begins in France on  May 17, continuing to the United Kingdom on May 23. It wraps up with a broad May 30 release in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, and one more big day in Germany on May 31.

There's more to come, but Brian Hall, General Manager of the Microsoft Surface team concedes that "some markets are still confirming timing so aren’t included here".

Yesterday my colleague Wayne Williams reported that Microsoft was offering a free cover to UK residents who purchase Surface RT before the end of June, but it turns out Microsoft will be offering the same deal to purchasers in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Making Surface available in Europe is a giant step for Microsoft's hopes of getting its first tablet to the masses and making the device, and the operating system, a success.