Microsoft to widen UK Surface footprint to 400 resellers

Westcoast enlisted as third authorised Surface distributor as Microsoft looks to share the wealth on two-in-one device

Microsoft has appointed Westcoast as a third UK Surface distributor as it looks to extend the franchise for the devices to 400 resellers.

Under the commercial-only agreement, Westcoast will carry the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, together with the full gamut of related accessories.

Microsoft appointed 117 UK Surface resellers in February through its two incumbent distributors, Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

But the vendor is adding Westcoast to the mix as it expands this number again, saying the distributor will hand the reseller community "the additional scale and choice needed given the high demand we are currently experiencing for Surface devices".

"We are pleased to confirm that Microsoft is in the process of recruiting additional Surface UK resellers, growing the number to approximately 400 partners," said Microsoft's UK commercial Surface lead, Pauline Yau.

"This will provide customers with even more choice and enable us to continue to expand the number of vertical markets and use cases."

Paul Harman, solutions director at Westcoast, added: "Our plan is to work with partners who have a real appetite to sell Surface and join an exclusive group able to deal in this premier brand."

The number of commercial Surface partners globally has swelled from over 150 to more than 10,000 over the past year, Microsoft revealed on a Q4 earnings call. Surface revenues rose by nine per cent, or $76m (£57.3m) year on year, during that quarter, which ended on 30 June.