Retailer to deploy 42 000 iPhones for POS

retail overhaul, reveals Apple Insider.

The Mooresville, North Carolina, big box retailer will introduce a new MyLowes online tool and implement the iPhones in an effort to catch rival Home Depot, which invested more than $60 million on handheld Motorola POS system last year.

Lowe's declined to say how much the iPhone rollout will cost, though it has said its overall capital spending will increase by 20% to $1.6 billion this year.

In addition to the new POS devices, the company will replace 72 000 computer screens with flat panels, increase bandwidth for transmitting data and add in-store WiFi for shoppers, the report noted.

What is different from Apple's own implementation is that Apple only uses iPod Touches, notes Gadgetsteria.

On top of that, the Lowe's issued iPhones will reportedly retain their full functionality - that means the ability to place phone calls and send/receive text messages and e-mails.