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Some hot Black Friday deals that are mobile only

Jefferson Graham
USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES - If you’re looking to save money this holiday season, take a few minutes after reading this to begin downloading retail apps.

Online giant Amazon is slipping some of its best “lightning” deals within the Amazon smartphone or tablet app, such as the 50 inch HDTV for a rock bottom $150. That’s app only, and shopping begins Thursday at 3 p.m. Additionally, if you don't feel like being glued to the Amazon app, the company lets you sign up for mobile alerts to find out when new “lightning” specials are offered.

Amazon app will have special deals on Thanksgiving day

Target will offer an instant 10% off on certain toys just for creating a wish-list in a Target Kids app.

Staples is testing a new feature in its app to comparison shop within its store, and Best Buy will make it easier to shop,  by using the app to summon a sales rep to your aisle.

So why all the app action this year? Well, let’s start with obvious--when’s the last time you shopped without having your phone by your side?

But most of the mobile experience has been shopping on the company mobile websites, little buying is actually happening within the apps. So companies are trying to change that. While shopping is a pastime enjoyed by many, getting consumers to bother with downloading dozens of individual apps for each store is a tough sell, says Lindsay Sakraida, features director for the Dealnews website. Thus, deals within the app.

Researcher Forrester says that some 10.3% of total U.S. retail sales in 2015 will be via mobile devices.

For Amazon, "this will be the highest profile use of an app for Black Friday, making it very clear Amazon wants to push people there,” says Sakraida.

Black Friday deals preview from USA TODAY TalkingTech

Amazon tried hard to get consumers to buy an Amazon branded phone from which it could sell more goods, but the Fire phone was soundly rejected. “So this is Amazon’s alternative,” says Sakraida. “If consumers always have Amazon on their phone, it benefits," the company.

Forrester analyst Julie Ask says retailers have great advantages in getting consumers to download apps because it gives them more information about the customer.

“I can learn a lot more about consumer behavior, and push out more relevant offers,” she says.

Last year, Amazon says 60% of its customers used a mobile device, and that while Cyber Monday is Amazon's peak shopping day, Black Friday had the most growth in mobile shopping.

Readers: discovered any great Black Friday deals yet? Tell me about it on Twitter, where I’m @jeffersongraham

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