A source within Microsoft revealed some more info about the company’s soon-to-be-opened retail outlets: 75 new stores over the period of the next two years, according to statement by a Microsoft executive dating back a couple months.

According to the latest leak, the first four retail outlets will be opened within a few months. The two in Palo Alto, California and Austin, Texas will start offering their merchandise to the general public sometime in April, while two other stores in New Jersey will open their doors to the people of Bridgewater and Freehold by the end of June. The same source who revealed the dates also said that the stores will be located next to Apple’s.

More specific information about Microsoft’s retail vision was expected, but what comes as a somewhat bigger surprise is that the company will be venturing overseas as well. The first international store will be opened up in Canada later this year.

“The store, located in Toronto, should launch shortly before the holidays, and will be joined by at least one other international store. Although the plans are a number of months away and could change at any point, we have been informed that Microsoft is planning other international stores, starting with launches in early 2013.”

For Microsoft, its Xbox console has done extremely well in the consumer space, and the software maker is making the most out of the demand. News of the next generation Xbox 720’s development have naturally managed to stir up a lot of buzz throughout the web, and our own Kit Dotson looked into some of the more interesting rumors in a recent post. He covered the in-game micro transaction system of the next Xbox, as well as the specs gamers should  be looking forward to.

Apple isn’t going to take the retail competition laying down.  Earlier this month, Apple appointed John Browett as its new senior vice president of retail.