According to a report at Forbes, the big-box electronic store Best Buy may be ramping up a major iPad 2 program — giving each employee a tablet for use. As part as the company’s “Connected World” plan, such a move would be a big boost to the visibility of Apple’s product in a relatively non-Apple environment like Best Buy:
A source with knowledge of corporate mobile device deployments tells Forbes that one of the country’s top 10 largest retailers expects to distribute iPads to each of its on-floor sales associates. This retailer, the source adds, operates 1,100 stores across the U.S. As the country’s largest electronics retailer — as well as a retailer that currently operates around 1,100 stores in the U.S. — Best Buy is a natural match.
Giving each employee an iPad 2 for personal use seems a little crazy to me. However, at the original iPhone launch, all full-time employees at Apple retail were given handsets as gifts.
While the Forbes report doesn’t discuss EasyPay, Apple’s iOS-based POS solution, it has been showing up at several retail chains. Coupling an employee gift with something like this makes a lot of sense to me.
Several years ago, Best Buy and Apple partnered to create “mini-stores” within many Best Buy locations. These areas are themed like an Apple Store and are staffed with Apple-trained employees.
Article Via Mac Rumors