According to the company, the application is the first of its kind from a Canadian retailer. The application is available for free on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

“Customers are moving toward accessing the Web through mobile devices, so we wanted to make it easier for them to access information for our store through their mobile devices with the iPhone app,” said Robert Pearson, vice president of ecommerce at Best Buy, Vancouver.

“With the volume of our customers using iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices to access our Web site, it made sense for use to create an app,” he said. “The app is partially a mobile experience and partially an iPhone app.

“Seventy percent of online mobile usage comes from Apple – this app creates an experience that leverages the online capabilities and built-in capabilities of a mobile device.”

The first Best Buy Canada stores were opened in the fall of 2002, with eight locations in the Greater Toronto Area – the company expanded west, opening more stores in Ontario and entering new markets in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. 

Shop till you drop
Consumers can browse products and view ratings and reviews.

There is a Ship to Home feature that lets consumers find and buy products and have them shipped right to their house.

Consumers can also use the Store Locator feature that helps them find the nearest store.

In addition, consumers can check what’s on sale, check product specs or share their favorite finds via Twitter, Facebook or email.

Here is a screen grab of the application:

“The app provides a more convenient platform for those customers on the go and with less time,” Mr. Pearson said. “The app makes it easy for in-store customers to leverage for shopping in our stores.

“They can easily pull up customer reviews while in-store to help with their buying decision,” he said. “All products that are on our Web site are available through the iPhone app.”

Here is another screen grab of the application:

Mobile favorites
There is also a feature that lets consumers manage their favorite items and access their Reward Zone account.

The retailer is looking at extending its application to other mobile platforms.

“We will also have our own ad program – we’re looking to leverage our own existing ad platform and are looking at Apple’s iAd,” Mr. Pearson said.

“There will also be new versions of the application,” he said. “We’re adding more capabilities to the product.”

Final Take
Rimma Kats, editorial assistant at Mobile Commerce Daily, New York