Best Buy® Mobile Introduces the New mIQ Mobile-Web Connected Cloud Service

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Best Buy Mobile, the mobile specialty retail unit of Best Buy Co., Inc., announced today the launch of mIQ, a new Web-based service that will transform the way customers use, manage and engage with mobile content and smartphone features. Best Buy Mobile will offer the new service for free beginning October 12.

The mIQ service allows smartphone users to take the information captured on their mobile devices and access it from an easy-to-use Web interface on any computer. Once a user signs up for this free service – contacts, text messages, calendar events, calls, photos, videos, and phone settings – are seamlessly uploaded from the mobile device and safely backed-up in a personal mIQ account in the “cloud.”

“Smartphones allow our customers to do some pretty amazing things, but sometimes all the great features can be overwhelming, as a result, customers have a hard time getting the most out of their devices,” said Best Buy Mobile Director of Business Development Mark Mosiniak. “mIQ creates significant value for consumers by allowing them to easily manage their data, share their mobile experiences and get the most out of mobile technology.”

Key Features

• Data backup & management: Upgrading to a new phone used to be a hassle. With mIQ, all content that lives on the mobile device — contacts, text messages, calendar events, calls, photos, videos, and voicemail messages — is automatically uploaded and safely backed-up on a personal Web-based mIQ account making it easy to sync, search, interact with, share it or transfer it from one phone to another. Since the mobile phone is constantly connected to the Web, mIQ automatically syncs any changes from the Web to the mobile device and vice-versa, instantly.
• Contacts: mIQ helps users easily manage and track the communication with all their contacts. Contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and other sources can be imported into the mIQ account and synchronized with the mobile phone. Users can then add, edit, or delete contacts from the personal mIQ account – the changes will be instantly pushed to the mobile phone and backed up on the web. Additionally, mIQ enables users to easily view text messages and calls associated with each contact.
• Enhanced text messaging: The mIQ Web platform provides an instant message-like experience by organizing SMS text messages into a conversational format. mIQ automatically uploads text messages to an inbox in the personal mIQ account where they can be read, forwarded, or responded to from any computer. Unlike other Web messaging solutions that deliver texts from random phone numbers, mIQ sends the text messages through the user’s mobile phone, ensuring that the recipient will always know who the message is from.
• Calendar: Instant accessto appointments and events is important whether sitting in front of a computer or on the go. mIQ automatically uploads appointments and events from the phone calendar to the Web. Users can then add, edit, or delete calendar entries from either the mobile phone or the mIQ account and changes are automatically synched between the two platforms.
• Photos and videos: mIQ enables users to do more with the memories captured with their smartphones. mIQ automatically uploads photos and videos from the mobile phone to the personal mIQ account – as soon as they are taken – making it easy to organize them by adding titles and descriptions, share them through email and text messages and post them to social networking sites.
• Social media connectivity: Social networking on mobile devices has taken connectivity to a whole new level. Updating friends on the latest happenings no longer requires a trip to the computer. mIQ features instant connectivity to popular social sites like Facebook, Flickr, FriendFeed and Twitter, helping users share their mobile experiences – status, photos and videos – directly from their smartphone, wherever they may be.

Pricing & Availability
mIQ,available October 12, will come standard for any new Best buy Mobile smartphone customer as part of the Walk Out Working free in-store smartphone setup. Other smartphone users can also sign up for the free service at http://miqlive.com. The service includes 1GB of storage and is currently compatible with smartphones running BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 operating systems like the BlackBerry 9700, Bold, Tour, Nokia E71 and N97, HTC Pro 2, Samsung Omnia II, and T-Mobile Dash 3G.

“Best Buy Mobile is about more than phones and accessories – it’s about complete, end-to-end mobile solutions that enable users to discover and get the most out of their mobile experiences, regardless of what phone they use or what network it runs on,” said Best Buy Mobile VP of Marketing Scott Moore. “Connected services like mIQ are a key component that allows Best Buy Mobile to attain that goal and deliver against its customer promise of being there through the life of the phone.”

Best Buy Mobile has become a leading destination for smartphone purchases, in part because of the promises the store offers its customers: better choice of phones and networks; impartial, informed advice; straightforward pricing; and someone to be there for the life of the phone.

About Best Buy Mobile
Best Buy Mobile features one of the largest selections of carriers, handsets and accessories available anywhere, as well as a highly-trained staff to help customers make the most of their mobile phones. Best Buy Mobile locations feature more than 90 different handsets from nine carriers, and over 130 accessories. Employees undergo at least 80 hours of intensive training, as well as continuing education on mobile phone technology and trends. Look for your mobile phone solution at Best Buy Mobile locations in every Best Buy store as well as in standalone stores nationwide.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $45 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; The Phone House; and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2009, we donated a combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.

MS&L PR for Best Buy Mobile
Miguel Sepulveda, 404-870-6810
miguel.sepulveda@mslworldwide.com
or
Best Buy Public Relations, 612-292-NEWS
newscenter@bestbuy.com

Copyright 2009 Business Wire

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