RadioShack Offering Comcast And iPods

Fort Worth, Texas — RadioShack has begun offering Comcast digital cable TV and broadband Internet services in 1,800 of its company-owned stores.

The agreement, which expands Comcast's retail presence to over 5,000 locations nationwide, “supports our continuing efforts to offer Comcast services to consumers at a time and place that's convenient for them,” said Bob Faught, retail sales senior VP for Comcast Online.

Jim Hamilton, senior VP/chief merchandising officer for RadioShack, described Comcast as “a natural fit.”

The companies are promoting the partnership by offering customers Comcast's 6Mbps Internet service for $19.99 a month for the first six months. The price includes a self-install kit, a cable modem and a mail-in rebate. The promotion expires on Dec. 31.

Customers can also opt for professional installation, Hamilton said.

Separately, RadioShack formally announced that it has become an authorized AppleReseller offering all iterations of iPod players — including the iPod shuffle, iPod nano and the new video-capable iPod — in all 5,000-plus company stores and a select number of dealer stores across the United States. (See TWICE, Nov. 7, p. 19.)

Availability will vary by store, RadioShack said, and the players will not be sold over the company's e-commerce site, RadioShack.com. However, the chain will continue to offer dozens of iPod accessory items, such as external speakers, docking stations, decorative and protective skins, travel cases, cables and power solutions, both online and in stores.

Players and accessories will be featured in a branded iPod section within each store, allowing RadioShack to be a “complete turn-key destination for iPod,” Hamilton said.