We’re not sure if it’ll make Best Buy the hip social hangout that the Apple stores are, but the Minnesota-based megaretailer is going to start selling the iPhone next month.

Starting on September 7, Best Buy will be the first U.S. chain to sell the ubergadget outside of Apple or AT&T (the carrier—remember, along with all the cool apps it is still a cell phone) stores.

Apple began peddling its 3G iPhone last month, about a year after the phones hit the market in its first-generation frenzy. The iPhones cost $199 for an 8-GB model and $299 for the 16-GB.

“We had a lot of work to do, obviously, to get in a position where Apple and AT&T would feel good about Best Buy Mobile carrying it, and that’s what we’ve done in the last 18 months,” said Shawn Score, president of Best Buy Mobile, in an Associated Press report (via MSNBC).

The App Store that’s included with the new iPhone model has been making just as much buzz lately, with pay and free apps being downloaded by the millions already. We’ve seen goodies like the iPhone as a universal remote, home automation controller, and multiroom audio interface.

Now with the Best Buy introduction, the iPhone goes to even more of the masses so we’ll just have to wait and see what other cool features continue to arrive.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!