GameStop to sell Cricket wireless phone service at video game stores

GameStop said Monday that it will begin selling Cricket Wireless no-contract phone service in more than 2,800 video game stores next month, as the Grapevine-based retailer continues to expand beyond the gaming industry.

The agreement between GameStop and Cricket, a subsidiary of Dallas-based AT&T Corp., follows the video game retailer’s acquisition last year of a chain of AT&T-branded wireless stores including some that sell the Cricket service.

It is the first agreement for GameStop to sell and activate cellphone service out of its core video game stores. The company began buying and reselling used Apple iPhones in 2011 and now sells used smartphones in its 4,200 U.S. stores.

“GameStop is committed to providing our customers the greatest value and service to meet all their video game, technology and now wireless needs,” GameStop President Tony Bartel said in a statement. “By offering Cricket Wireless service in our stores, we provide yet another great offering for our customers to get their favorite technology simply and affordably.”

GameStop is diversifying its product mix as it experiences strong sales spawned by a new series of gaming consoles but amid concerns that digital downloads of video games threaten its long-term business model. Last month, the company said its second-quarter profit more than doubled as sales increased by 25 percent.

Cricket Wireless says it offers a 4G network covering more than 98 percent of Americans, with prepaid plans starting at $35 a month and requiring no annual contract.

“Cricket Wireless’ collaboration with GameStop accelerates our retail footprint across the U.S., solidifying our position as a national player” Cricket President Jennifer Van Buskirk said in a statement.

Customers will be able to use GameStop trade credits acquired from selling old video games, consoles and other devices to buy the Cricket service.

Last year, GameStop acquired two retail chains outside the gaming industry: Spring Mobile, which operates AT&T and Cricket stores, and Simply Mac, an authorized Apple dealer that has stores in smaller markets. In the spring, it announced aggressive expansion plans, with the goal of adding 200 to 250 AT&T stores and 100-150 Cricket stores this year.

This story was originally published September 8, 2014 at 8:01 AM with the headline "GameStop to sell Cricket wireless phone service at video game stores."