One of the nation's largest retailer's is rumored to be giving iPads to its sales team-and Forbes reported that the retailer is likely Richfield-based Best Buy Company, Inc.

According to Forbes, a source with knowledge of corporate mobile device deployments said that one of the country's 10 largest retailers expects to give iPads to each of its on-floor sales associates.

The source said the suspected retailer operates about 1,100 stores across the U.S.-making Best Buy the likely retailer in question since its most recent quarterly report indicates that it operates about 1,068 stores in the United States.

Another factor supporting Best Buy as the likely retailer, according to Forbes, is the fact that it's already an Apple partner-the company has stocked the iPad since its original 2010 release and is also slated to offer the iPad 2 when it launches on March 11.

Forbes said that Best Buy declined to confirm the rumor, but that the retailer didn't deny it either.

A spokesman told Forbes that the source was probably thinking of the company's “Connected Store” pilot that kicked off last November in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh where sale associates in some stores were given several mobile devices, including iPads, Apple iPod touches, and Samsung Galaxy Tabs to educate consumers and process purchases.

But Forbes reports that the program will be expanded beyond the 27 pilot stores and Best Buy has acknowledged that the program could be expanded in the future.

Best Buy is the state's third-largest public company based on revenue, which totaled $49.7 billion for its fiscal year that ended in February 2010. Financial information for its fiscal year that ended in February 2011 is not yet available.

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