Draagon.net

Heads up, gamers: electronics big-box retailer  Best Buy is giving away an HTC smartphone to everyone who buys Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, scheduled for release on Tuesday. Gamers can choose from the Evo 4G for Sprint Nextel, the Incredible 2 for Verizon Wireless, or the Inspire 4G for AT&T. Signing up for a two year contract with either of the three carriers is required to take advantage of this deal. Best Buy if offering this promotion to get more attention for its Best Buy Mobile business as it strives to gain market share and up the competition in the smartphone and wireless markets. The company has already earmarked $25 million for marketing in the upcoming holiday season, with even more promotions expected in the coming weeks. Allister Jones, head of marketing for Best Buy Mobile, said, "We want to get customers to realize there is a better way, and that better way is Best Buy." Five years ago when the company launched its mobile department as a major add-on to its electronics retail store services, reception was slow going at first.  To step up interest in its mobile offerings, Best Buy Mobile now offers an optional buy back program -- not limited to mobile devices, but that is certainly a bonus for anyone purchasing expensive smart phones.  Further, Best Buy Mobile sells a protection plan for a monthly fee that covers any and all types of mishaps, including theft, loss, and accidental damage that includes the all important screen of the devices.  It also comes in handy if you happen to drop your smart phone into a swimming pool, or toss it out the window while breezing down the highway. No other protection plan out there covers all of these things, but it comes at a price:  buyers will need to be prepared to pay up to $17 per month for the Black Tie Protection Program from the Geek Squad.  Also, with all these goodies in your house, you'll want to make sure you have home security.