Sprint today announced a new partnership with Europe's Dixons Carphone that will see the companies test 20 new retail stores in various markets around the U.S. Dixons Carphone is a renowned electronics retailer. Under the terms of the agreement, Sprint will open and staff 20 retail stores that will be managed by Dixons Carphone Connected World Services (CWS) division. Sprint said it will also adopt some of CWS's best practices across its own retail stores, web site, and telesales. The end goal is to provide a better shopping experience for Sprint customers. If the pilot is successful, CWS will be given the responsibility to run more of Sprint's stores under an equally-funded joint venture. Sprint also recently expanded its retail footprint to 4,500 locations thanks to the addition of 1,435 RadioShack stores. Sprint says about 300 locations will include a store-within-a-store layout this month, with the rest to follow by the end of the year. The stores are co-branded RadioShack and Sprint, and include new signage and new interior designs that more closely resemble Sprint stores. Sprint acquired RadioShack's stores earlier this year.


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