Retailers heading to iPhone apps
Internet Retailer shares that Best Buy has launched an iPhone app to share their specials and deals.
The mobile app, available through Apple Inc.’s App Store, enables iPhone and iPod Touch users to view weekly deals and mobile-only specials and find the nearest Best Buy store. However, like the Best Buy m-commerce site, located at m.BestBuy.com, it is not yet transactional. Mobile shoppers must phone Best Buy to place an order.
iTunes link to the “Best Buy Weekly Deals” app here. Looks like it’s a good start for them… but with a quick search of iTunes I found another app called the “Best Buy – Gamer’s Club” which seems to the same thing focused on gaming deals and news. Not sure why there is two.
The “Weekly Deals” app seems pretty useful, even using the GPS on my phone to find my nearest physical locations, give phone numbers and connect to my Maps application for driving directions. You can’t search for deals in the app, and the settings are a little odd to operate, but it seems like a pretty good app to start off with.
Best Buy is also promoting another app-focused site/blog in the promotional materials called Best Buy Apps. I can’t quite tell what the point is, but it also links to other apps/sites they seem to have built.
Overall, it’s a great step to see a company promote specials and give some extra service to their customers… would sure like to see if it can drive any sales. 8-)
Is there an iPhone app that can help your company work with it’s customers better?
BTW: The easiest way to get links directly to the iTunes store is via this page from Apple.
(Disclosure: I work with a company building iPhone apps now, Common Sense LLC, at GetCS.com)
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Best buy also deploys army of GeekSquad folks on Twitter. Customer service goes social. Other companiess will follow.
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Thanks Jason!