As techies await the shipment and availability of Samsung's Galaxy S4 in retail outlets, the South Korean tech giant is ensuring that more consumers could lay their hands on the device. To match Apple stores, Samsung will open retail boutiques in 1,400 Best Buy locations.

The retail boutiques, called Samsung Experience Shops, will begin operating in Best Buy's big-box stores on May 1 and at smaller outlets on June 1.

Along with the beginning of the retail boutiques is the opening of Samsung's first prototype location in Lewisville, Texas since the South Korean giant, until recently, had no retail outlets of its own in the United States.

All of the Samsung Experience outlets will have a store space of about 460 square feet that will have stocks of smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras and accessories. Buyers would not need to go through a main checkout line to purchase a gadget.

Apple products, however, would continue to be available in Best Buy stores. The chain, in fact, is cutting 30 per cent off its current stock of iPad 3 tablets but not iPad minis. The reduced price on products are retail outlet's way of reducing inventory to make way for the major launch of a new product, expected to be the anticipated iPhone 5S.

Besides carrying the Samsung and Apple products, Best Buy also sells mobile phones from carriers Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Sprint, Boost Mobile and T-Mobile.

When Samsung rolled out the S4, its announcement excluded the release date and price. However, AT&T said it would sell the much-awaited smartphone for $249.99 on contract, although the carrier did not indicate if it was the 16GB or 32GB unit. It will begin to accept pre-orders for the Galaxy S4 on April 16.

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