Microsoft will open six new retail stores in 2013 in Texas, Florida, Ohio, California, Utah, and Missouri, bringing the total number of Microsoft stores up to 37 in the U.S., with rumors of European expansion in the works, too.

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Jonathan Adashek, General Manager, Communications and Strategy at Microsoft's Sales & Marketing Services Group, made the announcement on the company's blog.

"We have always said that we will adjust our strategy, and open additional stores to deliver the choice, value and service our Microsoft customers have come to expect," said Adashek. "Therefore, we're thrilled to ring in the New Year by announcing the locations of our first new store locations for 2013."

The new stores will open in:

• The Shops at La Cantera, San Antonio, Texas
• Dadeland Mall, Miami, Fla.
• Beachwood Place, Beachwood, Ohio
• Westfield San Francisco Centre, San Francisco
• City Creek Center, Salt Lake City
• St. Louis Galleria, St. Louis

The stores follow a similar retail philosophy pioneered by Apple, which uses its outlets to promote and educate users on its flagship products.

Earlier in the year, The Next Web reported an interview by Steve Ballmer who said Microsoft was planning to build its outlets near Apple's stores, because it needs to be "beat."

Over the holidays, Microsoft opened a series of temporary "pop-up" stores across the U.S. as well as some permanent outlets in Canada in a push to shift its latest Windows 8 operating system as well as its Surface tablet.

The company is planning to extend many of these pop-up stores into the new year but hasn't outlined when they will open to the public.

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