In conclusion, the two companies teamed up to bring  Microsoft Surface to life in a retail environment and to offer to the consumers who are searching a cell phone the ultimate way to learn and experience the latest advancements in the mobile world.

Unveiled last year at the Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital conference, Microsoft Surface a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor with which users interact through touch, natural gestures and objects placed on the surface.

Surface, which is a common effort of Microsoft Research and Microsoft Hardware, also features the ability to recognize physical objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.

The Surface does not use a touch-sensitive screen. Instead, it relies on multiple cameras beneath the table that can see when someone touches it. It recognizes objects based on shape or by using domino-style identification labels on the bottom of the objects.

According to a joint press statement from Microsoft and AT&T, Microsoft Surface will be commercially available beginning April 17, in select AT&T retail locations, including stores in New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio and San Francisco.

Based on the success and learning from these initial pilot deployments, plans for further expansion across AT&T’s 2,200 U.S. retail stores will be determined.