According to the latest from the always-churning Apple rumor mill, GameStop will begin selling the iPhone this fall. Sources in the know indicate that the full iDevice line – iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad – will be available at the popular video game retailer, possibly in time for the iPhone 5 release believed to be on tap for October.
The cat was effectively let out of the bag when several GameStore locations were reported to have begun accepting iOS device trade-ins for in-store credit.
It is not yet clear, however, as to how much in-store credit is being offered or if GameStop will eventually sell both new and used (or refurbished) Apple hardware.
As Apple demonstrated in its quarterly earnings reports this year, the expanded retail accessibility of the company’s hottest mobile devices greatly contributed to the record-breaking number of iOS units shipped and sold during 2011.
For Apple, a company that is seen by many as the inadvertent maker of today’s hottest mobile gaming platforms, the partnership with GameStop appears logical and likely a sound move for business.
