Fresh from settling its controversial differences with a mobile employee who uploaded videos disparaging buyers of Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhones, Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) is ramping up its wireless offerings with the launch of Best Buy Connect.
Best Buy is teaming up with Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) to offer data plans for its wireless-ready laptops. The twist here is that there will be no contracts, so while buyers won't be getting subsidized hardware, they will be able to come and go as they please.
Sprint's also offering an unlimited data plan at a time when some of its wireless rivals have been trying to curb network usage.
Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.
- Sirius XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) closed out its second quarter with 583,249 net subscriber additions. A couple of months ago, that was more than what the satellite radio provider figured it would nab all year. Now it's upping its guidance, targeting to close out 2010 with 1.1 million more subscribers than when it started.
- Viacom (NYSE: VIA) is snapping up social-gaming developer Social Express. The media giant hopes to create sticky social-gaming experiences out of its cable brand properties. Forget "I want my MTV" and start singing "I want my MTV app."
- June retail sales were a ho-hum affair, as comps climbed just 3.1% during the month. One of the biggest losers was one of the biggest darlings a couple of years ago. Same-store sales at Buckle (NYSE: BKE) fell a sharp 7.3% last month.
Until next week, I remain,
Rick Munarriz
