Microsoft might open a store on New York's Fifth Avenue, five blocks away from Apple's glass cube

posted by Peter K.

Aug 07, 2014, 5:59 AM

Microsoft might open a store on New York's Fifth Avenue, five blocks away from Apple's glass cube

Microsoft is pretty far away from Apple in terms of mobile device shipments and market share (and we bet that things won't change anytime soon), but it appears that Redmond might be trying to get closer to Cupertino in a more physical fashion. A recent report claims that Microsoft might be prepping its first New York-based retail store. It is speculated that it will be situated in a two-story building on 677 5th Ave., which is just five blocks away from Apple's well-known cubical glass store.

At the moment, the store is occupied by Fendi, an Italian fashion house, and its usable area stands at 8,700 square feet. At the moment, the average rent price on Fifth Avenue is roughly $3,500 per square foot.

This is not surprising at all, because Microsoft usually places its brick and mortar locations pretty close to Apple's ones. Redmond has some 50 stores across the states, but none of them is situated in New York and Manhattan in particular. Up until now, the giant relied on temporary pop-up stores, which had been dismantled right after they've fulfilled their promotional purposes. However, a permanent store that will showcase the company's Lumia smartphones and Surface tablets will probably help Redmond increase its popularity.

source: NY Daily News via Neowin

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38 Comments

37. 7thspaceman

Posts: 1597; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

Philadelphia PA could use a Windows Store. it's a big city and Microsoft needs to be there to counter Android and Apple products sales in that big City. People are individualistic some people are into Android devices, some like Apple devices and still others like myself like Windows devices. there are Blackberry fans out there too! I say the more choices People have the better because we are not the same minded.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 9:14 AM 0

30. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

WP fans, normal ones, do not read further. Liveitup, If they rented sqft based on sales of WP itself alone. This store should be about the size of a phonebooth/outhouse. Ironic kinda.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 10:26 AM 0

13. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

At $3500 a sqft, paid for by Bing?

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 7:49 AM 1

12. PAPINYC

Posts: 2315; Member since: Jul 30, 2011

How dare they take away FENDI for Microsoft!? What will a Microsoft store offer that I can't already get at Best Buy? What would be a great thing is if Microsoft took over the F.A.O. Schwarz store, set up a special reception/greet booth on Fifth Avenue where they can give away free Granny Smith Apples and, then, usher tourists into their store by telling them that that glass cube in the middle of the block is really a huge greenhouse where pOison iVy is grown.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 7:27 AM 0

20. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

The store will offer many things that you can't get at best buy as well as a prime location to shop.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:14 AM 1

11. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

The point of this article?

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 7:26 AM 2

23. Damo579

Posts: 268; Member since: May 18, 2013

The point is Microsoft is finally going to have an actual store in NYC. It's the biggest city in the country so it needs a Microsoft store. That's the point of the article, to let people know it's happening.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:40 AM 1

28. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

^Sherlock

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 10:09 AM 0

6. Rocksteady unregistered

After trying WP8.1 myself, apple's got nothing to worry about. I couldn't be happier. (I'm using both Android and WP). Good luck Microsoft.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 6:48 AM 3

9. NokiaFTW

Posts: 2072; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

Yes being behind WP in more than 25 markets, which will drive future growth is nothing to be worried off.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 7:22 AM 2

16. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

But at the expense of selling only loss making phones and not the flagship is something to be worried off. http://www.phonearena.com/news/Over-25-of-the-WP-world-runs-on-Nokias-Lumia-520-Lumia-1020-is-nowhere-in-sight_id49776

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 8:37 AM 1

19. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Considering the fact the iOS Innsbruck UI takes many designing ques from WP UI i guess you can make that case though many will disagree with you and say iOS Icons are still associated with the past and Live Tiles are the future etc. To each his own.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:12 AM 3

27. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

^wordflow typo WTF does Innsbruck mean? and ques?

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 10:08 AM 0

36. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Innsbruck is iOS UI.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 8:00 PM 0

3. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Microsoft device shipment worldwide and that includes OEM are at around 14%, Apple is at 11%, Google around 48%..

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 6:23 AM 4

5. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

Pretty well from Apple, considering that it's a high-end brand.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 6:47 AM 2

1. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

First provide all apps on WP Store.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 6:09 AM 5

2. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

GAMES!!! Just games... Most Apps are there

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 6:17 AM 6

8. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

None of the banks I deal with are there.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 7:22 AM 1

17. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Many of the major banks like Ally, Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo etc are there etc and besides with WP live Tiles all you do is pin a bank to the homescreen and you have access just like the app. Bank related apps like Mint etc are there as well. WP have many bank apps.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 8:55 AM 4

29. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

There are few but many are missing. I deal with Santander, Lloyds and Amex non of which are there (not everyone lives in 'murica). I looked up Standard Chartered for my sis which isn't there either. I am also a big fan of VSCO cam which is also missing. Even the ones which are there have poor ratings e.g. Halifax. If answer to every app gap question is pinning to homescreen then why did MS create app store in the first place. A browser is not as good as an actual app. It consumes a lot more data because it needs to download images unlike app and it doesn't even save preferences. http://www.phonearena.com/news/How-close-is-Windows-Phone-to-closing-the-app-gap_id50817

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 10:25 AM 0

14. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

Well I'm not trying to troll exactly. But apps are still missing. There are many apps which I use daily would never make it to WP like Greenify, tasker, timely, Google apps, multitasking, dashclock, talon, poweramp/apollo, swype,etc. just to name a few. While some of the above apps won't work on WP due to restrictions, but my point is the app gap is still there and wide enough.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 7:50 AM 1

15. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

Honestly all my favourite apps were there but games collections is poor. But you are correct some apps also missing like google apps, some media player and few others. But i often find alternatives (i wouldn't say they are better but good). But games collection were pretty headache nothing arrive on time to never.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 8:14 AM 2

18. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

There are apps on iOS thats not Android and vice versa, there are apps and games on WP thats not on iOS or Android and vice versa like the very cool Joblens that lets you see jobs available around you in augumented reality even exclusives games like Halo Spartan or Space ex shooter etc as well as other cool Nokia apps etc.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:08 AM 3

21. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

Which WP apps exactly are not available on android and ios except disqus and those fake clone apps?

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:32 AM 0

32. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Foundbite, Song arc, Sophie lens hd, track runner, office lens etc are just some of them.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 11:57 AM 2

24. NokiaFTW

Posts: 2072; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

The apps you're naming aren't exactly apps, they are more of widgets or specific Android function's apps. And blame entirely Google for no Google brandbranded apps in the WP store.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:43 AM 2

25. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

Huh, besides Dashclock all others are real apps. Talk sensible bro. And regarding Google apps, true its a Google fault but its more of a rivalry between Microsoft and Google, which I believe M$ ignited first by that stupid Scroogle campaign.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 9:49 AM 1

31. michaelmicro unregistered

You need to go and demand answers from Google as to why they aren't making apps for Windows Phone. Alternatively, look for services from a company who are prepared to make them available across all platforms. This is why I use Outlook for my email, calendar and contacts as soon as Google removed EAS. Personally

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 10:39 AM 1

33. meanestgenius

Posts: 23128; Member since: May 28, 2014

Just want to make a few points here about your statement: There are apps that are still missing on WP compared to Android. However, I would think that one that purchased a WinPhone has done so to use Microsofts services, not Googles services. I, for one, do not use Google services at all. I much prefer MSFT's services to Googles. Multitasking is not an app, it's a function inside implemented in the OS, but I believe you know that already. Swype is no longer necessary to have on a WinPhone due to them having their own implementation now with WP8.1, and I must say that it works great! Especially since it's available throughout the OS and all apps.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 12:02 PM 1

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