Retailers & Distributors

Android Gets Brick-and-Mortar Store

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Google continues inching towards the retail business-- after opening the "shop within a shop" Chromezone in a London PC World branch, Google opens an "Androidland" store within a Telstra outlet in Melbourne, Australia.

AndroidlandThe store collaboration involves not only Google and Telstra, but also Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and LG. The outlet showcases different devices running on the Google OS, with special displays and gaming kiosks "that will help shoppers learn about Android phones and tablets."

Meanwhile Google-trained "experts" get to help customers.

It all sounds very much like the Apple take on retail, even if lacking the hype Apple stores tend to get. But the idea is fairly sound, as the dozens of Android devices can lead to consumer (and retailer!) confusion.

There is no mention if Google has any plans to export the Androidland concept towards Europe yet, but the Australian opening could very possibly be a test case for further Google forays into retail space.

Go Androidland Opens in Melbourne

Go Google Softly Steps into Physical Retail

Apple Revamps NYC Glass Cube

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Apple finishes work on the flagship 5th Avenue, New York store-- removing the wooden shell surrounding the building to reveal a tweaked version of the iconic Steve Jobs-designed ground level glass cube.

Apple Store NYCJobs wasn't happy with amount of glass panes within the original 9.8m x 9.8m cube, ordering the company to rebuild it at an estimated cost of $6.6 million.

The original design consists of 90 panes of light blue-tinted glass, with metal joints holding everything together-- the new design uses only 15 "larger, seamless pieces of glass." It is also less blue, too.

Usually open 24/7, the store closed for an evening on November 3rd, before reopening to much cheering from blue-clad "genius" employees on the 4th. The interior remains unchanged, with a staircase taking customers down to the main floor, where in their house the Apple products wait dreaming.

Go Apple Store, 5th Avenue

Farewell, webOS Brick and Mortar Stores

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Remember how HP has retail stores selling webOS-based devices? Not anymore, as HP hammers the last nail into the webOS coffin by closing down the US stores and gets rid of any remaining inventory.

Palm storeReports emerge of the stores selling Veer handsets for $50 and Pixi units for all of $25 (or $15 for 4 or more).

The news is just the last in a series relating to the HP fire sale, where TouchPad prices dropped to around $100.

We can definitely say our farewells to Palm now, then-- unless HP manages to find a willing buyer.

Go HP Closes Palm Retail Stores Forever (Mobilemag.com)

Go Arise from the Grave: The TouchPad is (sort of) Back

The World's Largest Order Ever?

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US carrier Sprint makes a $20 billion bet on the iPhone 4S, the Wall Street Journal reports-- committing to buy "at least 30.5 million iPhones," a possibly record breaking non-military order.

Sprint iPhoneWith such an order Sprint (the no. 3 US carrier) might only start making money from the deal on 2014.

The carrier however hopes the gamble will put it in a better position with customers, gaining revenue in the process. Either that or it ends up losing, big time.

Both Sprint and Apple decline to comment by the time of writing.

Sprint also has another ace up its customer-enticement sleeve-- unlimited data plans. However, the WSJ says "Sprint would have to double its rolls of contract customers, convert all of them to the Apple device or a combination of the two."

Is the iPhone 4S (arguably a minor upgrade on the iPhone 4) worth such risk from any retailer? TrendForce does predict iPhone 4S shipments "may surpass 100M" by 2012, even if one might argue on the generosity of such a forecast.

We'll get to know how the iPhone 4S "wow" factor-- or lack thereof-- will propel Apple to further market success after Octer 14, when the device launches in the US.

Go Inside Sprint's Bet on iPhone (WSJ.com, subscription required)

Go The iPhone 4 Gets an "S"

Go TrendForce: iPhone 4S Sales Expected to Exceed 100M

T-Mobile Stores Get European Redesign

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T-Mobile starts rolling out a new store design in 400 stores across the US-- adopting the European design format from parent company Deutsche Telekom.

T-MobileNow both European and American T-Mobile/Deutsche Telekom stores will share the same retail look similar to that of Apple Stores. 

Lighting now comes through magenta LEDs, while hardwood covers the floors within an "interactive" shopping area replete with standing service counters and private seated service desks. 

At the back is a 55" digital display (to which lies an uninterrupted travel path from the entrance), while vertical highlight panels carry information kiosks and video monitors.

The Deutsche Telekom redesign kicked off in European stores last year, and should continue rolling in stores old and new in about 65 markets within the next 2 years.  

Watch T-Mobile Store Redesign