Microsoft's Surface touch screen technology will be deployed in select AT&T Wireless stores beginning April 17, and expanded to other stores throughout the year, the Redmond company said Wednesday.

AT&T locations in New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco will be the first to use Surface. The Surface technology will allow customers to learn more about devices, as well as get information on the phone, coverage area, and other aspects of AT&T service.

In the future, the two companies plan to allow customers to place their phones and actually drag and drop content such as ringtones, graphics, and video to their devices.

Like a giant table-top iPhone interface, Surface uses a 30-inch display and various input methods including touch, gestures, and placement of objects on the display to navigate and receive information.

A marketing document released at WinHEC last year explains that a Surface device "turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it's a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more."

Above and beyond the interactivity listed above, the two companies plan to use the test to look into other ways the technology can be used.

AT&T has about 2,200 company-owned stores, but rollout will be dependent on the success of the trials in the initial launch cities. The wireless carrier says Surface will become an integral part of the sales process.

Rival operator T-Mobile -- one of the initial companies listed as an initial Microsoft partner on Surface -- is considering the technology as well, but has not said whether it actually roll it out. Harrah's and Starwood Hotels were also named as Surface partners.