(Yicai) July 2 -- Microsoft has decided to integrate all of its sales channels in China, the leading US technology company reportedly said following news that its authorized physical stores in the Chinese mainland have shut.

Microsoft is constantly evaluating its retail strategy to meet the changing needs of customers, the Redmond-based firm told The Paper yesterday. Mainland customers can still access Microsoft's products and services through retail partners and on Microsoft.com, the company added.

Earlier media reports said Microsoft has closed all of its authorized brick-and-mortar outlets in the Chinese mainland and now only has online sales channels.

The Paper found that a number of authorized Microsoft stores in Shanghai and Beijing closed in the past few days, while others have not received notification of closure and are still operating normally, but do not have the latest products such as the Surface Pro 11 and Laptop 7.

Authorised Microsoft stores that only sell computers will definitely close, while larger outlets with a wide range of products will be transformed into Xbox experience stores, a source told The Paper. Many stores confirmed that the integration of sales channels will not affect product warranties.

Microsoft has 51 stores in the Chinese mainland, most of which are Xbox and Sundan Microsoft experience stores, according to Microsoftstore.com. Only seven are authorized Microsoft outlets.

Editor: Futura Costaglione