Archive for the ‘Retail’ Category

iPhone to be sold by Tesco in the UK, hemorrhages cachet

So we know the iPhone has been slumming it and selling itself on Walmart shelves in the US for a while now, but it’s retained a somewhat more dignified cachet over here in Europe. Until today, that is. Just “in time for Christmas,” British retailer Tesco will make it possible for you to buy your socks, no-frills groceries, and shiny smartphone all in the same place. You’ll still be riding O2’s network, thanks to the Tesco Mobile service, but the department store chain is likely to price its contracts more aggressively, as it already has a £30 per month plan that includes unlimited calls, texts, and web surfing. There might be something to this whole “competition” thing after all then, eh?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone to be sold by Tesco in the UK, hemorrhages cachet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted: November 25th, 2009
at 6:30am by Vladislav Savov

Topics: Apple, Mobile, PricePlans, Retail, Sales, TescoMobile, UK, british, cellphone, exclusivity, iPhone, price plans, tesco, tesco mobile

Walmart to rival Best Buy’s Geek Squad with own in-home install crew

We’ve never truly been at ease with that Geek Squad crowd. Something about “the people” they hang with and “the places” they hang at just worries us, so we’re pretty thrilled to see another mega-corp stepping in to take the place of the now-deceased Circuit City FireDog crew. Starting sometime before the holiday season, Wally World will be partnering with N.E.W. Customer Service Companies in order to offer in-home installation to customers buying anything from a wireless router to a HTIB. The service plans will be sold on prepaid cards ranging from $99 to $399 in value, and each install includes a “preliminary consultation and a tutorial after installation is completed.” Granted, it may be a bit tough to get the dude looking to spend $5 on a new plasma to spring for such a service, but hey, it’s not like competition is a bad thing.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless, Networking

Walmart to rival Best Buy’s Geek Squad with own in-home install crew originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted: October 25th, 2009
at 8:07pm by Darren Murph

Topics: Best Buy, BestBuy, ConsumerElectronics, Electronics, GeekSquad, Installation, Retail, Service, Services, Tech Support, TechSupport, WalMart, business, consumer electronics, geek squad, help, install, it, wal mart

Microsoft Store opens to Scottsdale campers (video)

By now you know that Microsoft’s on-line store is selling PCs and third party software. Well, Microsoft is also waving the flag over Scottsdale, AZ today as it swings the doors wide on its new line of brick-and-mortar retail stores. Fans lined up overnight and stood for hours in a twisted line that should have Apple fans nodding in a tacit understanding. Come on, you may have different tastes in OSes but you should be willing to fight to the death for the right to choose ‘em. Check the queue after the break as well as the grand opening countdown from 7, naturally, and a first walk around the store. Pics just beyond the read link down there.

P.S. The first four campers each received a free Zune HD from Microsoft. Nice.

Continue reading Microsoft Store opens to Scottsdale campers (video)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Microsoft Store opens to Scottsdale campers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted: October 22nd, 2009
at 2:26pm by Thomas Ricker

Topics: BrickAndMortar, GrandOpening, Microsoft, Microsoft store, MicrosoftStore, Retail, Scottsdale, brick and mortar, grand opening, opening, store

Microsoft online store now featuring third party hardware and software

Disappointed that you can’t make it to Scottsdale for the opening of the big Microsoft retail store? Since you’ve given up on real life in lieu of a completely wired existence anyways, perhaps a more meaningful experience would be to mosey over to the company’s online shop and check out all the new PCs and third party software that’s been added to the catalog. No longer just the fine purveyors of Office products and “Bill Gates is my homeboy” t-shirts, this is your newest online destination for Sony netbooks and Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing software — as well as that operating system you’ve been longing to get your hands on. One thing they don’t have? Manic Panic hair dye. Well, not yet anyways.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Microsoft online store now featuring third party hardware and software

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Microsoft online store now featuring third party hardware and software originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted: October 22nd, 2009
at 10:31am by Joseph L. Flatley

Topics: ManicPanic, MavisBeavonTeachesTyping, Microsoft, Microsoft online store, Microsoft store, MicrosoftOnlineStore, MicrosoftStore, Retail, ThirdParty, manic panic, mavis beavon teaches typing, third party

Microsoft Starts Peddling Other Companies’ PCs, Software Online [Microsoft]

Sorry Scottsdale, the prize for the first Microsoft store location to open its doors goes to… the internet? Moving beyond their own branded products, Microsoft has started hawking other companies’ Windows-friendly wares online, from laptops to Photoshop to PC accessories.

This is effectively an extension of their brick-and-mortar retail push (or is it the other way around?) which will also include third-party hardware, software, and accessories compatible with Windows, and particularly Windows 7. The first round of hardware for sale is heavy on laptops and netbooks, with Dell, Sony, Lenovo, HP and Acer portables all making appearances—basically, a similar lineup to what you’d see at any Best Buy.

This makes a lot of sense for Microsoft, who’s watched Apple do pretty, pretty well with a broad, inclusive online store, but who couldn’t cash in on a similar concept without their own hardware as an anchor. It’s the same direction they’re taking with Windows Phone: In liew of Microsoft hardware, they’re just drawing others under the Microsoft tent with blanket branding and Microsoft-centric marketing. In other words, to the customer, it may as well be Microsoft hardware. [Beyond Binary]