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Best Buy makes iPhone 3GS free on contract tomorrow, December 10th
Only a few days after Radio Shack unveiled the first iPhone sale in recorded history, Best Buy's done one better -- it's offering up the 8GB iPhone 3GS "to qualified customers" without charging a cent for the handset. Yes, that's a free iPhone, not counting the AT&T ball and chain, for the likely-far-less-than-one-day supplies will last, and so we imagine a fair number of you will start queuing up right now to get in on the action. Not a bad way to move surplus inventory and head off perennially rumored CDMA juggernauts at the pass -- promise them the free iPhone, then lock them into those two-year contracts. It's hard to resist! [Thanks, The Crusher]
Best Buy's iPhone 4 launch manual leaked?
Like the iPad launch guide before it, Best Buy's iPhone 4 launch plan has just made its wily way into our collective lap, replete with loads of details on how your favorite blue-shirted electronics salespersons are going to be spending their Thursday morning. While we've yet to see any hot scoops inside its two dozen pages (aside from some confusing, contradictory gibberish about whether Best Buy will have iPhones at launch at all) we have learned that stores will open up previously suspended preorders on launch day, accepting reservation fees for devices that customers can pick up at a later date. What we're not seeing here is anything about specific number of units, but there are various lines that caution against expecting much in the way of non-reserved phones -- should there be any, the guide advises first come first serve once the store opens. In other words, it's business as usual: call ahead and show up early. See some choice quotes from the playbook after the break.
Best Buy's iPad launch playbook leaked in its entirety? Looks like it
Well, well, what do we have here? In case you were wondering if those leaked Best Buy iPad playbook images making the rounds this weekend were legit, we've been handed a 15-page PDF that matches up with everything we've seen so far. Granted, this could still be fake, but it's a pretty thorough and clever one, if so. There isn't really anything too exciting that we haven't already covered, but for those who felt like something in their lives were missing between the excerpts, feel free to browse the entire thing now while you wait (im)patiently for Saturday. %Gallery-89200%
Black Friday: Best Buy discounting up to $150 off, Apple retail will match prices
AppleInsider, MediaBistro and more are all pointing to some sweet Best Buy discounts on Apple products for Black Friday weekend that include laptop and desktop computers. Sale prices are good online and in-store. Best Buy apparently stocked up on inventory to support the event. Apple employees will also be staffing Best Buy locations to push sales. The four-day sale extends from Sunday until Wednesday. (Thanks, Michel.) Also of note: Apple retail stores will match other authorized retailers' advertised prices. According to ifoAppleStore, if you supply proof of the competitor's pricing (like Best Buy's circular), Apple retail employees have the authority to approve a discount matching that price. If that weren't enough, as Cory mentioned earlier, Apple will also be having its own online Black Friday promotion. After the jump, discounts ahoy!
Discount retailers want to sell more handsets
With 65% of U.S. mobile handset buyers going to carrier outlets and counters to buy all those handsets, that leaves the other 35% of US wireless customers looking at other sources for all those cellphones by our math; physical and online retailers pick up that slack. Which, exactly? Wireless Week reports that powerhouse retailers like Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target and Wal-Mart are (unsurprisingly) doing their part. Hey, are those calling plan commission bells we hear? Anyway, Wal-Mart has gained ground from the days of selling low-end phones and plans, offering a decent assortment from more than a few carriers these days; Best Buy is doing well also, while Radio Shack -- once chummy with several carriers -- is apparently being beaten badly by the bigger consumer electronics and discount chains, and the news that its outlets won't be getting the iPhone in store can't be easing the heartburn. Of course, we figure this kind of fierce competition can only be good news for consumers, so bring it on; if the big boxes want to beat carriers' corporate stores dollar-for-dollar on handsets, you're not going to hear a peep of complaint out of us.
