BRISTOL, Conn.-Mobile ESPN L.L.C. reported a deal with electronics retailer Best Buy to support the launch of the Mobile ESPN mobile virtual network operator service beginning Nov. 1.
Mobile ESPN said consumers in a handful of pre-launch markets-Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Minneapolis; and Reno, Nev.-will be the first to be able to purchase Mobile ESPN products and services from the big-box retailer. The service is scheduled to have its nationwide launch on Feb. 6-also known as Super Bowl Sunday-with Best Buy having the exclusive “bricks and mortar” retail distribution channel for two months following the launch.
Mobile ESPN is set to operate using Sprint Nextel Corp.’s CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network, which is expected to cover 143 million potential customers by the end of this year and be available in approximately 64 metropolitan areas by early next year. Mobile ESPN announced last month that Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. would provide the initial handset for the service-the Sanyo MVP. The company said the device would sell for $399 after a $100 rebate.
Best Buy has managed to snag several wireless exclusives during the past several months, including advanced camera phones from Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless.
