Target Details Outsourcing Of Wireless Business To RadioShack

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 8/30/2010

Minneapolis — Target has provided more details on its decision to outsource its wireless business to RadioShack.

The pilot program, which began last year with Bullseye Mobile sections within 100 Target stores, was greenlit and renamed Target Mobile. The instore wireless centers will be available in approximately 850 stores by the end of the year and in the majority of Target locations nationwide by mid-2011, the discount chain said.

The sections — staffed and fulfilled by RadioShack, which also provides the service to Sam’s Club — offer pre- and post-paid phone and broadband plans plus handsets and accessories. Carriers include Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

Target has concurrently launched a Target Mobile website (www. targetmobilestore.com) that’s operated by Simplexity.

RadioShack will also support, through the Mobile centers, a used CE trade-in program for Target that launched in Northern California on Aug. 24 and will be available in about 850 stores by the end of the year. Customers will be able to exchange their old electronics for store credit, and can also recycle their CE devices at Target.com in exchange for gift cards, through a partnership with NextWorth.

Separately, Target has also launched a free technical support hotline at (877) myTGTtech. “As we continue to grow and enhance our consumer electronics business, we designed (877) myTGTtech to assist guests with any questions and technical support on their electronics purchases,” said Target senior VP Mark Schindele. “Our goal is to create the best and easiest shopping experience for our guests.”