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The new stores are expected to be similar in size to Best Buy's 30,000-square-feet outlets in the US, which offer everything from mobile, broadband and computer technology, to audio-visual equipment and technical support.

The Financial Times said in August, without citing sources, that the venture was planning 200 UK stores over the long term.

Best Buy agreed in May to buy 50% of Carphone Warehouse's retail business for £1.1 billion, creating a joint venture in order to expand into Europe.

The strategy announcement will come alongside what is likely to be a downbeat trading update from Carphone Warehouse as it battles a slowdown in consumer spending.

In July, the group cut its full-year forecast for new broadband customers to between 200,000 and 250,000 from 400,000, and said revenue at its UK fixed-line telecoms business would be broadly flat, versus previously expected growth of 4 to 5%, due to a consumer downturn.