Carphone Warehouse to come to US
updated 05:00 pm EDT, Mon April 7, 2008
Carphone Warehouse in US
Europe's Carphone Warehouse is coming to the US, reports say. The company is an independent cellphone vendor, and has some 2,300 stores scattered throughout European countries. It is now planning to open almost 1,000 stores in America, thanks to a partnership with big-box retailer Best Buy, which owns a 3 percent stake in Carphone. Some of these will be boutiques within Best Buy shops, but others will operate separately in different locations. The first American outlets should launch later this year.
Carphone began in Britain, and is said to have had significant impact on Europe's cellphone industry, by selling people plans and phones from multiple carriers. Shoppers thus had a better sense of what packages were actually worth, forcing companies to lower their prices or offer new benefits. Clerks were also able to offer objective thought on options, and sell more after-sale services.
Notable is that the company is also the only independent vendor of the iPhone, which is otherwise sold around the world either by Apple or by local carriers. It is unclear however whether Carphone's UK iPhone deal could be carried over to the US, where it might pull visitors away from the bulk of Apple's retail stores.
Woohoo!
04/07, 06:44pm reply
Because the US has just a dearth of cell phone stores. h***, in my local mall, there's only one AT&T store, and a measly 3 kiosks.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Oh..
04/07, 06:45pm reply
and if they're linked with Best Buy, you know you can count on a great customer experience, knowledgeable staff, and great prices!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
stupid name
04/08, 04:25am reply
I hope for their sake they're changing their stupid name. WTH is a 'carphone'?
WiseWeasel
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 1999
re: stupid name
04/08, 08:19am reply
Back in the early days of cellphones, they were too bulky to carry around with you. Ergo, the carphone.
Now I feel old.
Roger@MacNN
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
re: re: stupid name
04/08, 12:41pm reply
Prior to that, you could ONLY get them in your car, and they were permanently fixed there, hence the term carphone. My dad, despite now having a modern mobile phone, still can't get out of the habit of leaving it in his car. It's bl**dy infuriating when I need to get in touch with him!
As for the article, is it really that difficult to type the company's name in full for each reference? It's the Carphone Warehouse, not Carphone. If you must shorten it, go for CPW.
Geobunny
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Oct 2000