SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled locations of the first six new retail stores it plans to open in 2013, indicating that the company will continue to expand its retail coverage in the new year.

All of the six new stores will be located in the United States, including one in Westfield San Francisco Center, an upscale shopping mall in downtown San Francisco.

"We're thrilled to ring in the New Year by announcing the locations of our first new store locations for 2013," Microsoft said in a post on its official blog.

The company said it plans to open the doors of many other stores next year, without giving further details.

The retail expansion is part of Microsoft's strategy to move its business beyond software into hardware and other areas.

The retail stores can help directly connect customers with Microsoft products, such as the Surface tablet computer the software giant launched this year.

Microsoft said that in 2012, it opened 51 new full-line stores as well as "specialty stores" which offer some but not all of its products.