By Michael Oleaga / m.oleaga@latinospost.com (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Aug 16, 2013 03:02 PM EDT

Microsoft has announced expansion plans for the Surface with Windows RT and Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablets.

In a recent blog post Microsoft Surface Director Cyril Belikoff announced that the tablets will start to sell via commercial channels in the U.S. and abroad.

Follow the latest Tech news on Twitter: @LatinosPostTech 

The 17 countries that will see the commercial release of the Surface tablets are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

"In addition to offering Microsoft's extended warranty and accidental damage, resellers bring a variety of additional value-added services to the Surface family, such as asset tagging, custom imaging, kitting, onsite service and support, device recycling and data protection. But we're not stopping here," wrote Belikoff. "We're committed to authorizing a select set of additional partners in these markets in the coming weeks."

It was also announced that the Outlook app will make its debut with the Surface with Windows RT. The app was previously exclusive for the Surface with Windows 8 Pro but will accompany the Surface with Windows RT tablets due to the Windows 8.1 update. A preview for Windows 8.1 is currently available.

The commercial launch of the Surface tablets arrives as a lawsuit was filed against Microsoft about the sales and performance of the Surface with Windows RT.

As Latinos Post reported, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announced the lawsuit on behalf of "purchasers of Microsoft Corporation common stock" on Aug. 12. The complaint noted Microsoft issued false and misleading statements about the financial performance of the Surface with Windows RT tablet. The plaintiffs are seeking to recover damages on behalf of the Microsoft common stock purchasers during the Class Period of April 18 and July 18 this year.

Microsoft has not issued a comment in regards to the lawsuit.

Preview to Windows 8.1

New iPad 4 vs. Surface with Windows RT Advert

­­__

For the latest updates, follow Latinos Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO

Related Articles:

- Microsoft Surface RT Sales Figures: Class-Action Lawsuit by Investors Suing Microsoft Over Surface RT Tablet Sales, Performance 

- Microsoft Surface Pro Update: Microsoft Issues August Software Update for Surface Pro, Surface RT Tablets After Price Drop 

- Microsoft Surface Windows RT vs. Windows 8 Pro Specs: New Surface Tablet to Have Updated Size, Pixel Resolution, Memory Storage, and CPU

© 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.