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Verizon, AT&T Expanding Best Buy Mini Stores

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

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Best Buy has teamed up with AT&T and Verizon to launch new in-store experiences.

Starting this month, 250 Best Buy locations across the country will be equipped with designated spaces for the mobile carriers to show off their products and services.

The Verizon Experience, for example, will expand its existing presence to highlight the latest smartphones, tablets, computers, accessories, and data plans. Staffed by trained Best Buy employees, it is expected to reach nearly 100 locations by the end of this month; all 250 shops should be completed before the new year.

"The Verizon Experience in Best Buy is geared to showcase connected lifestyles—such as wearable tech, computing on the go, and connected home—and the devices and plans that make these lifestyles a reality," John Colaiuti, vice president of national distribution at Verizon Wireless, said in a statement.

AT&T, meanwhile, is offering a hands-on look at mobile devices, wearables, and connected car plug-ins, as well as its Digital Life home security and automation program.

"Get hands on in the new AT&T space and see how you can easily connect to all of your favorite things—whether that's your home, your car or your TV," Andy Shibley, senior vice president of national retail at AT&T, wrote in a blog post.

The new space (pictured in a rendering above) will soon include TV and video entertainment options available through the company's newly acquired DirecTV service.

"By expanding our in-store presence and depth of products sold at Best Buy, we're giving customers another convenient way to fully experience what AT&T has to offer," Shibley wrote.

"The mobile device is becoming the remote control to everything else in our lives, but it can be confusing," Josh Will, senior category officer of mobile and connected home at Best Buy, said. "We can help shoppers make sense of it all."

A number of gadget makers and tech companies have had in-store experiences at big box stores over the years, including Samsung, Microsoft, Nintendo, and even Google.

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Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
  • Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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