Microsoft has begun rolling out a version of the Surface 3 tablet with built-in 4G LTE in the UK exclusively via O2.
“We’re happy to announce Surface 3 (4G LTE) will become available to business customers through the first partner operators on July 3rd in Germany and the United Kingdom, and later, in France and Spain,” said Microsoft in a blog post.
The first Surface 3s with built-in 4G LTE were rolled out in Japan with partner Y!Mobile around two weeks ago, the blog post noted.
The 10.8-inch Surface 3 with 4G LTE is currently available in two models: 64GB or 128GB of storage, both with 4GB of RAM, a 10.8in full HD touchscreen, Intel’s quad-core Atom X7 processor, an 8MP camera on the back, and a 3.5MPfront camera, a built-in kickstand and a microSD slot to add up to 128GB. The Surface 3 ships with Windows 8.1 Professional, with the option of upgrading for free to Windows 10.
O2 is offering the Surface 3 4G to SMBs for £707.50 including £50 up front, then £27.67 a month on a 24-month contract. The carrier is also offering 50 percent off a Surface 3 keyboard when the device is purchased alongside Office 365 and McAfee Multi Access or Windows Intune.
“We’re proud to be the first to market in the UK with the Microsoft Surface 3 4G,” said Ben Dowd, O2 Business Director.
“At O2 we’re always looking for ways to give our customers the best in class digital products, services and applications, so they can experience the benefits of having the latest technology at the heart of their business. The Microsoft Surface family is a fantastic example of this and I hope our customers are as excited as we are to start using the new devices.”
It is to be noted that the first shipment of mobile broadband-enabled Surface 3 devices is available exclusively to businesses and sales groups.
“We see particular excitement for our LTE-enabled Surface 3 with businesses and their sales forces, which is why this initial announcement is focused on business availability,” explained Brian Hall, general manager of Surface at Microsoft.
“We’re already hearing from customers that have deployed Surface Pro 3 that sellers are saving hours per week in many cases. Having a more mobile option in Surface 3 (4G LTE) is only going to create more opportunities.”
Microsoft has revealed that the Surface 3 4G variant will be rolled out in France and Spain in the coming weeks. No specific time frame has yet been announced regarding the launch in these markets.
