Verizon, AT&T Expand Presence in Best Buy Stores

(NASDAQ:AAPL) that already have their stores integrated into Best Buy locations across the country.

Earlier this year Sprint completed the purchase of 1,435 RadioShack stores as part of RadioShack’s bankruptcy and doubled its company-owned retail footprint by opening 1,435 Sprint/RadioShack stores. In fact, the details go on to confirm that numerous carriers mini-stores will be deployed in the same locations. Samsung Electronics has had mini “experience” stores within Best Buy locations since 2013. The company has also partnered with the likes of Qualcomm, Nokia and Ericsson to bring new products capable of the new wireless technology.

The Verizon Experience stores have already begun rolling out at Best Buy where shoppers can try out the newest smartphones, tabs, wearables and services. However, you also can’t really fault Verizon for at least giving folks an update on how things are progressing with next generation wireless technology.

5G is something you won’t be able to use on a smartphone for a long time – but that’s not stopping Verizon and AT&T from publicly coming to blows over the far-off tech. It announced a trial run last week to open 300-square-foot shops in 10 Macy’s stores in November. The program could help the retail giant to sell a good amount of its products ranging from smartphones to tablets and other accessories.

Verizon has said it’s aiming for 5G to reach consumers in some capacity sometime in 2017, but AT&T seems cool to hold off until the industry as a whole has actually settled on standards and a cohesive idea of what “5G” means. (NYSE:T) plan to unveil their first mini-shops in Best Buy’s outlets in Minnesota.

The AT&T shops will similarly be manned by dedicated employees, and will eventually showcase DirecTV services from its newly acquired satellite provider in addition to mobile products, wearables, connected-car plug-ins, and the carrier’s Digital Life home automation and security platform. Rochester and Duluth outlets are the other two that will host the two wireless companies.