Microsoft is expanding availability of its Surface Pro running Windows 8 outside of the US, Canada, and China as it hopes to capture more marketshare. 

In a blog post, the Surface team announced that the Surface Pro would be available before the end of May in the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 

The Surface Pro went fast when it first went on sale in the United States in early February, as both the 64GB and 128GB models sold out quickly at most retail outlets. Even with the quick sell-out, it's not clear just how much stock was actually being offered. Photos from the launch day indicated solid numbers in line at a few stores, but it didn't look to be on scale with an Apple iPad launch, for instance.

Microsoft says its 128GB Surface Pro stock has now been alleviated as "most retail partners in the US and Canada as well as the Microsoft Store now have the 128 GB product consistently in stock". 

The expansion to 26 markets in May could be considered a bit later than many had hoped. Furthermore Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand will be added to the availability list before the end of June.