Best Buy to buy a provider of health devices for older people

NEW YORK (AP) – Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy is getting more involved in the health industry by acquiring a company that provides emergency response devices for older people.

Best Buy said Wednesday it would pay $800 million for GreatCall. The San Diego, California-based company, which has more than 900,000 paid subscribers, offers services such as Easy Connection to carriers that can connect users with caregivers, answer questions and more.

It’s the retailer’s latest move to deepen its presence in healthcare. Best Buy already sells health and wellness products and offers an activity monitoring service for aging adults in 21 markets.

Moody’s chief retail analyst Charlie O’Shea says the deal will allow the company to “expand and broaden its services and deepen customer relationships with a large and growing segment of the U.S. population.”