Walmart to give 740,000 U.S. store workers free Samsung phones
Reuters
Published Jun 03, 2021 09:08AM ET
By Richa Naidu
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Inc said on Thursday it would give nearly half its U.S. employees free Samsung (KS:005930) phones by the end of the year so they can use an app the company has developed to manage shifts, clock in and stay in "constant communication."
The world's largest retailer, which employs nearly 1.6 million people in the United States, said more than 740,000 workers would receive Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro smartphones, cases and protection plans. Currently, most people share company devices.
Walmart declined to share financial details, but the phone sells at $499.99 on Samsung Electronics (OTC:SSNLF) Co Ltd's website. It is common for big companies to strike heavily discounted deals with carriers and device makers when buying corporate phones in bulk.
The retailer, which tested the project earlier this year, said it would not be able to see personal data. It will be able to see work emails, installed work apps, web history on the phone's work-specific browser, device specifications and clock-in locations.
People will only be able to access work apps while on their shifts, but can use the phones as personal devices, Walmart said.
The app - called "Me@Walmart" - can be used to check schedules up to two weeks in advance, ask for changes and request time off. It has a voice-activated assistant that helps locate products and is also designed to ensure workers can "instantly connect with one another" in stores. Using the phones is not mandatory.
"Constant communication is essential for our business. Walkie talkies were one solution, but not every associate has one," Walmart executives Drew Holler and Kellie Romack said in a blog post.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.