Edible Apple

In the latest example of the iPhone permeating through the retail sphere in the U.S., RadioShack (or is it “The Shack” now?) recently announced that it would begin selling the iPhone at its nationwide stores sometime in 2010. In the meantime, iPhone 3G and 3GS models will be available at a select number of RadioShack stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City areas later this month.

Wall Street responded quite favorably to the news, with many investment firms increasing the price target on Radio Shack stock by as much as 50%.  If that’s not a testament to the retail power that comes along with the iPhone, then I don’t know what is.

The number of locations where one can purchase an iPhone has certainly expanded since it was first launched back in 2007.  At the time, consumers could only purchase the iPhone at Apple retail stores and non-franchised AT&T wireless stores. Since then, the availability of the iPhone has slowly but surely spread, having become available at both Best Buy and Walmart in 2008.  And now, you can add RadioShack to the list.

This isn’t the first time RadioShack has been commissioned to sell Apple products, though, as they struck a deal to sell Apple’s line of iPods way back in 2005. Still, the extra visibility and increased points of sale can only help Apple push out the iPhone even further. Though it’s probably not true any more, there was a time not too long ago where well over 85% of the U.S. population lived within 15 minutes of a local Radio Shack. So while Radio Shack may come across as more of a hobbyist/geek shop, there’s no denying that its numerous store locations will help drive iPhone sales into the hands of even more consumers.