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Dixons and Microsoft haggling over Surface RT Ts&Cs

Distie deal likely but not before end of 2012 - sources

Dixons Retail is currently thrashing out the terms and conditions to flog Microsoft's seemingly little loved Surface RT slab.

Sources close to the talks say a deal is on the cards but were unsure if it could be struck before the peak festive sales seasons begins in earnest.

"Dixons is likely to get it [Surface] but is still at the negotiating table," said the source, who claimed the retailer was one of Microsoft's largest customers in the world.

Redmond decided in the first instance to sell the slablet direct via its retail stores in the US and microsoft.com globally, a move that alienated some channel partners.

This has prevented financial analysts from measuring sales though reports in the Asian supply chain suggested in recent weeks Microsoft was halving production orders with the makers of Surface.

Pushing the device through the channel was inevitable equities analyst Detwiler Fenton told us last week, claiming the lack of multiple distribution outlets was "killing" the Surface and the price tag wasn't helping either.

Microsoft confirmed earlier this week that US and Aussie retailers would be the first to get Surface by mid-December and additional availability will be added in other countries "in the coming months".

Dixons and Microsoft declined to comment. ®

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