The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Carphone Warehouse gets into games consoles, Macs

Retailer readies 'Best Buy Europe' scheme

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Exclusive The UK’s High Street gaming retailers now have another competitor on their hands: the Carphone Warehouse has begun selling games consoles.

Although CW hasn’t officially announced its roll-out of its in-store 'gaming walls' yet, a representative from a London branch confirmed the firm will sell consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360 from today.

Unfortunately, the gaming wall in CW’s Oxford Street branch wasn’t quite up and running when we popped in earlier today. But it’s reasonable to assume that, when it is, the wall will let gaming fans get up close and personal with each of the big three consoles.

Carphone_Warehouse_gaming_wall

CW's Oxford Street gaming wall's was still a little bare today

Whether CW’s gaming walls will welcome handheld consoles, such as the PlayStation Portable, remains to be seen. It’s not been confirmed if the retailer will sell games and accessories too.

A company spokesman told Register Hardware that the firm will make a major announcement on 14 October which will be linked to US electronics retailer Best Buy’s recent acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in CW.

From next year, CW stores will be joined by larger, “Best Buy Europe” outlets, the spokesman said, as the company brings the US chain's format over here.

Although the spokesman wouldn’t reveal any further details, a source familiar with the company's plans claimed that CW’s computer system has already begun listing Apple products, none of which the retailer currently stocks.

Our source added that everything from iMacs to laptop batteries and external CD drives for the MacBook Air have begun appearing on the company’s stock system.

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

Latest Comments

Even if they were the only store selling water ...

.... I would avoid CPW (and all of the other "phone" stores) like the plague. I'd rather drink out of muddy puddles! CPW are truly awful, second only to P4U. The sooner the recession claims them the better.

Where's the IT angle in this story anyway? Blatant flamebait I tell ya.

0
0

No thanks

Any shop that mobs me as I walk through the doorway loses my custom no matter what they're hawking. They just don't understand the difference between informed advice (welcome) and the blind hard sell (unwelcome).

They're second in line to my throne of Consumer Hate only to DSG :)

0
0

retards

The tards in most carphone whorehouse stores actually make shopping in a PCWorld pleasurable in comparison.

Muppets.

0
0

More from The Register

 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Review: Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Missing Mac ports reunited, for a price
 breaking news