Apple will soon have to update this page that shows where customers can buy the iPhone 3G. AppleInsider reports that Best Buy will also soon be selling the hot Apple product that has already sold 3 million units.
Best Buy already offers Apple's complete line of iPod digital music players at all its stores and recently expanded sales of the company's Mac computer line to more than 600 of its larger footprint locations.
Word of the move comes just one week after Best Buy announced that it has completed upgrading its Best Buy Mobile departments inside each of the company's U.S.-based stores -- a factor which may have been instrumental to the iPhone deal.
Every facility now has a dedicated cellphone section with similarly committed staff who are trained 80 hours each to help customers buy mobile devices. The focus and reach of the program may have swayed Apple, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Before, at least some of these phone sales would have been handled by more superficially knowledgeable floor workers.
The program is already credited by Best Buy as having sparked interest in premium, media-savvy devices like the Samsung Instinct, which is one of iPhone 3G's most direct rivals and is only available through Best Buy and Sprint. Sales of this class of device have grown tenfold year over year at each store that has a Best Buy Mobile presence, according to the retailer.
Best Buy will start selling the new iPhones on September 7th. This should help customers be able to purchase one of the new iPhones without having to wait in line. There are still lines outside Apple stores today. However, you don't see lines outside of the AT&T stores - possibly because customers don't realize that can buy the phones there. It's good for consumers because there will be more places to buy the iPhone. RadioShack may also eventually carry iPhones but not before the end of the year.
