Walmart Starts Selling iPhones

Walmart has started carrying Apple's iPhone 3G in nearly 2,500 of its stores beginning Sunday, December 28, 2008. The retailer is offering the black 8GB model for $197, and the 16GB black or white iPhone 3G for $297. Yes, Walmart is offering a lousy, two dollar discount on the device.

“We are delighted to bring customers this ground-breaking mobile technology,” Gary Severson, senior vice president, Entertainment, Walmart, said. “Our electronics associates have been preparing for many weeks for the arrival of iPhone 3G. We are excited to now help new customers learn more about the features and services that make the iPhone unique.”

But hey, at least it's carrying it. Of course, customers must immediately tie the phone to a carrier, namely AT&T, which offers a two-year service agreement. Those already having contracts signed with AT&T must apply for a qualified upgrade. According to the official report issued by Walmart, America's leader in price matching has a policy that also allows it to match the price of any local competitor's advertised store cost on the same item within the same promotional period.

The same report goes to detail the cool features available with the iPhone 3G, such as “3G networking that is twice as fast*, built-in GPS for expanded location-based mobile services, and iPhone 2.2 software, which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs over 10,000 third-party applications available through the new App Store.”

With the announcement that Walmart is holding iPhones, the retailer has also installed Apple iPhone 3G kiosks located at the Walmart Connection Center in the Home Entertainment department. There, customers can find information and assistance, ask purchase questions, watch demonstrations, and ultimately activate their devices.