Microsoft’s Surface RT will go on sale at Staples as early as tomorrow, the retailer announced today — part of a move by Microsoft to expand the retail footprint for its tablet ahead of the company’s previous schedule.

Staples made the announcement this afternoon, in conjunction with news from Microsoft that it was ramping up production of the Surface RT tablet. Microsoft said in its news release that Surface will be available at “additional retailers” as soon as the middle of this month.

Until this point, Microsoft has sold Surface exclusively in its own retail and online storefronts.

“Our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year. Based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier,” said Steve Schueler, corporate vice president, Microsoft Retail Sales and Marketing, in a news release.

The company didn’t offer any specifics on Surface RT sales numbers, but the company said it was increasing production of the tablet.

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