• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, August 9, 2010

Best Buy’s Geek Squad CTO and Founder Robert Stephens could have slipped recently when he tweeted on Twitter about a white label tablet developed by the retailer. If that's the case, the mobile ad industry could heat up quickly as Apple's iPad gets some competition and companies mange to stick more gadgets in the hands of consumers at reasonable prices. Geeky Gadgets points to a prototype from Rocketfish, which is Best Buy’s in-house brand.

It would make sense. The Financial Times reports Best Buy has become the first U.S. retailer to distribute mobile coupons to consumers as they walk in the store.

Shopkick delivers the coupons through an application to the consumer's phone. The company sends the coupons or "kickbucks" credits just for entering the store. Consumers can trade the coupons for gift cards, computer gaming credits or music downloads from Best Buy’s Napster service.