Minneapolis
– Target customers can now redeem the company’s gift cards using only an
Internet-enabled cellphone, thanks to a new service that stores bar codes to
the retailer’s mobile site.
After saving their gift card information to a PIN-secured
account on the Target.com mobile site, the service allows customers to check card
balances, access their cards at checkout, and save and label multiple cards to
their account.
Target said it is the first major retailer with the ability
to scan mobile barcodes in all of its stores. Its point-of-sale scanning
technology also makes it possible to view online assortments, check product
availability, find store locations, manage gift registries and lists, browse
the weekly circular, and receive text and e-mail notifications of sales event via
mobile phones.
“The addition of Mobile GiftCards to our suite of mobile
shopping solutions further simplifies the Target experience for our guests,”
said Steve Eastman, president of Target.com. “Consistent with our ‘Expect More.
Pay Less.’ brand promise, we will continue to surprise and delight our guests
with innovative and highly relevant mobile capabilities, enabling access to the
Target experience anytime and anywhere.”
