Microsoft is picking up the pace for their ultimate goal of 39 Microsoft Authorized Reseller stores by opening 2 new stores here in Malaysia. This will include a Microsoft Authorized Reseller store in The Gardens Mall on 30 May 2015. Another store will be opened at One Utama on 31 May 2015. As usual the store will offer a hands-on experience for Microsoft products like Windows phones, feature phones, Surface tablets, Microsoft Office 365 and more. Check out the promotions and activities in this article.

In line with their previous statement to open 39 more Authorized Reseller stores in Malaysia by end of 2015, Microsoft Malaysia will be opening their second Authorized Reseller store at Sunway Pyramid on 23 May 2015. Like the first store recently opened in KLCC, this store in Sunway Pyramid will feature an assortment of best-in-class Microsoft products, including Windows Phones, Feature Phones, Surface devices as well as Windows, Microsoft Office 365 and more. Visitors can get a hands-on experience of all these devices and products, and special consumer training sessions will also be available on the opening day. If you've been curious about Windows 10, a preview version of the operating system will also be made available to try. Check out this article for more promotions, deals and details.

Microsoft Malaysia recently announced that Malaysia would be getting the first Microsoft Authorized Reseller Store in Asia Pacific. Located in Suria KLCC, the store will offer various Microsoft products including Windows smartphones, phones, Surface tablets and software like Windows and Microsoft Office 365. The extensive line-up will be available for the public to get a hands-on and personal view with available Microsoft devices, apps and services. While it may be the first, it won't be the last as 39 more such retail outlets are planned for Malaysia by the end of 2015. Promotions will include the following:

• The first 50 customers to purchase any Lumia or Surface device will walk away with a pair of Monster Headphones
• With every purchase of a Lumia or Surface, customers will be able to participate in the Live Tiles of Fortune game, where they stand to win shopping vouchers worth RM50. 
• In collaboration with AirAsia, any purchase of a Lumia 532 and Lumia 535 will entitle customers to 5,000 worth of AirAsia Big points which can be redeemed for a return flight to selected destinations. For more information on this promotion, do visit http://www.airasiabig.com/promos/lumia/ 
• The top 3 (three) most creative pictures taken using the Mobsta device using the hashtag #MicrosoftMYStore stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as a Limited Edition Gold Lumia 930, Lumia 535 with Coloud Boom headset, and a Lumia 530.
• Customers can also get their free caricature done on a Surface Pro 3 by artists when they visit the Microsoft Store. 
• Every three hours starting from 11:00am, visitors to the store can compete with others in Zombie Tsunami. The top three scorers of each game will win a Seagate Wireless Plus HDD, Microsoft Treasure Tag and Coloud Boom Headset respectively.

The Microsoft Lumia 532 smartphone will soon be available in Malaysia for RM379 starting from 27 March 2015. Offering something between the Lumia 530 and Lumia 535, the Lumia 532 features tech specs that include a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, 4-inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, 5MP rear camera and VGA front camera. Measuring in at 118.9 x 65.5 x 11.6mm the Lumia 532 will be available in black, green, orange and white. It also supports 3.5G connectivity, Dual-SIM and up to 128GB microSD. Powered by a 1560 mAh battery it will feature integrated Skype, Office and now Spotify for free. With these features, tech specs and pricing the Lumia 532 should offer entry-level users another solid option for a Windows Phone but you can check out the highlight video for yourself in this article.

Microsoft Malaysia and GSC have organized the "1314 - Forever Love" promotion where anyone who buys a GSC movie ticket from 13 December 2014 to 14 December 2014 could win a free Microsoft Lumia 535 smartphone. Participating GSC Outlets include Tropicana City Mall, Cheras Leisure Mall, IOI Puchong, Paradigm Mall and Setia City Mall. Five lucky winners will be chosen every day at each participating GSC outlet. Check out the steps to participate below:

• Customers must purchase a movie ticket for a movie on 13 and 14 December from GSC
• Lumia owners who show their Lumia device with the GSC app will receive a pair of free GSC movie tickets
• At 5:35pm the lucky draw for the Lumia 535 will begin.

Microsoft has officially launched their new unofficial selfie smartphone for the masses, the Lumia 535. The most notable features of this smartphone include a 5MP wide-angle front camera, 5MP rear camera with LED flash and 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for just RM429. The version coming to Malaysia supports dual SIM and will pack in Windows Phone 8.1 with the latest Lumia Denim update right out of the box. It will be available next week in black, cyan, orange and white. In addition, units bought in December 2014 will also come with a free bundle worth RM99 which includes a 2200 mAh power bank, 16GB memory card, screen protector, keychain and notepad. Trying out the Lumia 535 first hand, the smartphone is quite thin and light with the usual polycarbonate backside and it certainly looks better than the rather chunky Lumia 530. Other tech specs and hands-on photos of the Lumia 535 are listed below:

• 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 8GB storage + 15GB OneDrive + up to 128GB microSD
• 5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixel resolution, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Sunlight Readability
• 5MP rear camera with LED flash + 5MP front camera with wide-angle lens
• 1905 mAh removable battery
• 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8mm | 146g
• Supports dual-SIM
• Windows Phone 8.1 Lumia Denim
• RM429

The Lumia 535 is the first Windows phone to carry the Microsoft branding and it looks like the same device is all set to hit the Malaysian market pretty soon. It was recently spotted at the SIRIM database, which means the phone is already certified for our local market. The Lumia 535 is the successor to the Lumia 530 budget smartphone. It brings a lot of new upgrades, but retains some features from the earlier generation. For example, the processor remains the same as before with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor. However, Microsoft has increased the RAM capacity from 512MB to 1GB while the internal storage has also been upgraded from 4GB to 8GB. On the front, there is a 5-inch 960 x 540 pixel resolution IPS panel. At the rear, there is a 5MP camera with auto-focus and LED flash. The front camera now features a 5MP wide angle sensor, which should click better selfies than before. Microsoft has also improved the onboard battery to a 1905 mAh capacity one along with dual SIM card slots. Although Microsoft Malaysia has not yet announced any details for Malaysia release or pricing, we expect it to retail around RM400 with a possible Malaysia release date on 4 December 2015.

Microsoft is really offering an interesting smartphone with the official announcement of the Microsoft Lumia 535. The most notable features of the smartphone include a 5MP front camera, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, 5-inch display and an affordable price tag. In one move, it seems like they've shot down several of their own previous Lumia smartphones such as the Lumia 530 and Lumia 730 / Lumia 735. Other tech specs include a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage, 5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixel resolution, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, 5MP front camera with wide-angle lens, 1905 mAh battery and coming with Windows Phone 8.1 Lumia Denim. It is also thin and lightweight at 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8mm and 146g with a dual-SIM version as well. Available in black, bright green, bright orange, cyan, dark grey and white, the Lumia 535 is set for €110 (RM456). No Malaysia release dates or pricing yet, but we expect it to be soon, if not this month then the next. In the meantime check out the video in this article.

Microsoft may be coming out with a new Lumia smartphone on 11 November 2014, as they have released a teaser image of a smartphone and the date "11.11.2014". From the shape of the curve, it seems likely that this new Lumia would be the Lumia 535 with one major feature being a front-facing camera (the Lumia 530 doesn't have one). Other tech specs could also include a larger 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution, 1GB RAM, a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front camera and 1900 mAh battery. The added features will likely mean an increase in price from the RM355 the Lumia 530 is currently retailing at, perhaps at RM399? No news about any Malaysia release dates just yet but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we find out.