OREANDA-NEWS. Microsoft Corp.'s Surface tablet computer will make its Japanese debut on March 15, the local unit of the U.S. software giant said Friday.

Microsoft Japan Co. will sell the Surface RT - the first Microsoft tablet introduced here - through its own website and more than 1,000 stores of such electronics retailers as Bic Camera Inc. (3048), Yamada Denki Co. (9831) and Yodobashi Camera Co.

The device boasts a 10.6-inch screen as well as pre-installed software for word processing, spreadsheets and other tasks. The model offered in Japan runs on Windows RT, a special tablet version of Windows 8. When used with a keyboard peripheral, it can work like a laptop computer. The 32-gigabyte version will cost 49,800 yen - less than the comparable model of Apple Inc.'s iPad.

Microsoft released the Surface in the U.S. and China last October but appears to have delayed the Japanese launch out of consideration for the Japanese personal computer makers that are also customers for the Windows operating system. With the Surface cheaper than other Windows-based tablets, domestic PC manufacturers could face even harsher price competition.