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 green-lit and renamed Target Mobile. The in-store 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 (
) 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.”
