This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In another example of Samsung trying to muscle in on Apple's territory, the Korean electronics manufacturer is opening boutiques inside 1,400 Best Buy stores across the country beginning this week, including four in Utah.

It's the same retail strategy used years ago by Apple when the maker of the iPod and iPad opened similar mini-stores in Best Buy locations.

The Samsung Experience Shops will open in Best Buy outlets in Murray, 5181 S. State St. (opening Friday); South Salt Lake, 261 W. 2100 South (opening Saturday); Riverdale, 4177 Riverdale Road (opening April 20); Sandy, 35 E. 11400 South (opening April 27).

The shops will sell Samsung hardware, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, connected cameras and accessories. They will be staffed with Samsung Experience Consultants who can help customers with questions, as well as activate new phones with any carrier.

The boutiques come as the company is expected to begin selling by the end of the month the newest version of its best-selling mobile phone, the Samsung Galaxy S4. The last iteration, the Galaxy S3, proved to be the biggest-selling Android-based phone against Apple's iPhone.

Apple has about 400 retail stores nationally but also has a number of mini-stores in Best Buys, as well as retail partnerships with Walmart and Target.

Google+: +Vincent Horiuchi