Target shoppers don’t have to take their Target GiftCards along to redeem them, since the rollout of the Target Mobile GiftCard. Using Target’s point-of-sale scanning technology, any customer with an Internet-connected mobile phone can save GiftCard information to a PIN-secure account on the Target.com mobile site. The shopper can then retrieve GiftCard bar codes for scanning at checkout.

Customers can access their Target Mobile GiftCards to add value at store registers, and check GiftCard balances whenever they want at the mobile site. Further, Target Mobile GiftCard functionality permits customers to save multiple GiftCards to their accounts and label each one for easy reference.

“The addition of Mobile GiftCards to our suite of mobile shopping solutions further simplifies the Target experience for our guests,” noted Target.com president Steve Eastman. “Consistent with our ‘Expect More. Pay Less.’ brand promise, we will continue to surprise and delight our guests with innovative and highly relevant mobile capabilities, enabling access to the Target experience anytime and anywhere.”

According to Minneapolis-based Target, which operates 1,740 stores in 49 states, it’s the first major retailer with the ability to scan mobile bar codes in all of its stores. As well as availing themselves of the new Mobile GiftCards, the company’s shoppers can use their mobile phones to view online assortments, check product availability and store locations, manage their Target gift registry and lists, browse weekly ads, and receive text and e-mail notifications of deals.