Twenty-one HMV stores in the UK have started selling music-enabled mobile phones for both the Vodafone and Orange networks. Handsets on sale in the record stores will include those Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Nokia phones that include a music player. The phones will be stocked in the shops' 'digital' section alongside MP3 players and the like.
Confirming the move, HMV's Head Of Digital Mark Bennett told reporters: "We're not trying to get into the mobile phones business here - the key point of differentiation for us is that all the phones that we will be stocking will feature music players. This initiative supports the ongoing development of HMV's multi-channel strategy aimed at giving consumers the greatest possible access to music and entertainment."
Many Virgin Megastores have had a department flogging Virgin Mobiles for a long time now of course, but it is the first time their high street rival has stocked mobile phones.