Best Buy and Toys R Us among other retailers also adapting to mobile for Christmas shopping boom.
With analysts continuing to release stats and predictions for e-commerce this holiday season, a stream of retailers are exploring a number of routes to embrace mobile into its plans, according to Reuters.
The adoption will see companies use smartphones as research devices to check product info, make price comparisons and make purchases.
Home furniture and appliance retailers Lowe's has launched a major attack by issuing 42,000 iPhones to its staff across more than 1,700 stores. This will reportedly allow staff to check product supplies both in-store and at neighbouring branches.
Gihad Jawhar, VP, Lowes.com, said: "The shopping experience is in the consumer's hands and you can't fight where they're going. Retailers can either hop on the bus or get left behind. We are choosing the first option."
The report says Best Buy has 63 "connected stores" where staff members are being encouraged to use company smartphones to support shoppers in their search for items.
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A spokeswoman revealed employees have been authorised to match rival competitior prices on the spot to secure sales.
Analyst eMarketer claims holiday e-commerce in the US will grow by 17 per cent to $46.7 billion. This comes as Internet Retailer reports the 300 largest US mobile merchant will generate sales of $5.37 billion through mobile devices in 2011, doubling last year.
John Donahoe, chief executive of eBay, said: "Retailers are waking up to the fact that shopping is changing very rapidly. Some wish that weren't true -- they would like to ban smart phones in their stores. But others are embracing it. They have got to get to where consumers are making their decisions."
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