According to a new story, Best Buy may outfit each of their on-floor retail sales associates with an iPad at each of the company’s 1,100 US stores.

The report from Forbes cites “A source with knowledge of corporate mobile device deployments.”

Continuing, the source clams the distribution of Apple’s iPad will occur at one of the 10 largest retailers in the U.S. which operates 1,100 U.S. stores, making Best Buy, which had 1093 U.S. stores as of September 2010, the most likely candidate.

Forbes considers Best Buy the retail establishment doing so given other factors including their existing relationship with Apple. When iPad 1 was launched Best Buy was one of Apple’s launch day partners and the company has commenced advertising the availability of iPad 2 in its stores when the device goes on sale March 11.

AppleInsider believes that Best Buy’s distribution of iPads to its associates   as part of the company’s “Connected Store” initiative.

“The retailer launched a pilot program in 27 stores last year that gave several mobile devices, such as iPads, iPod touches and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, to sales associates for the purpose of educating consumers and processing purchases.”

Why would Best Buy give their sales associates an iPad?  AppleInsider feels the program makes sense because:

One possible explanation for the rumor could be that Best Buy is preparing an iPad-based point-of-sale and inventory management system. Apple currently uses an iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout system in its retail stores.

Do you think more retail outlets will use the iPad to make purchasing products, electronic or other?  What benefit/downside do you see in doing so?