GameStop to sell new and used Apple iPhone, iPod and iPad lines

Apple is reportedly looking to extend the retail reach of its iOS platform by offering iPhones, iPods and iPads through games retailer GameStop.

News blog 9to5Mac reports that the retailer will sell new devices and accept trade-ins and used sales.

The partnership will be good news for Apple buyers who don't live near an Apple store or official reseller. GameStop has around 6,500 outlets around the world, which will greatly extend the availability of iOS devices.

The deal also offers a way for customers to prepare for upcoming releases and upgrades by getting a bit of extra cash from their old models. Even if you don't need the extra coin, trading in hardware is a good way to make sure it's disposed of in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

The move also makes an interesting point about iOS, and by extension Apple's place in the gaming world. Ten years ago the gaming crowd that frequented places like GameStop wouldn't be caught dead playing games on an Apple device. If you weren't a console owner, you played your games on a PC. Apple had no use for GameStop, and vice versa.

But along with the rise of iOS as a consumer platform has come the rise of Apple in the games world. What started as a niche market for casual games has become a serious platform with exclusive titles from some of the largest games studios in the world.

Suddenly iOS is a serious option for gamers, and everyone, including GameStop, is taking note.