REVIEW: ShopSavvy scans barcodes, simplifies shopping

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Yay or Nay. Every week we’ll review a new wireless application or service from the user’s point of view, with the goal of highlighting what works and what doesn’t. If you wish to submit your application or service for review, please contact us at rcrwebhelp@crain.com.
Application: ShopSavvy, developed by Big In Japan Inc.
Running on: G1 by Google Inc. on T-Mobile USA Inc.’s 3G network.
Yay: Scans any barcode using the phone’s camera to give instant shopping results for comparison. Neat.
Nay: We didn’t have many complaints. Once in while (very rarely) we seemed to have to hold the camera extra still for the barcode to register.
We say: ShopSavvy proves that barcode scanning can work in the mobile environment. It’s a great and useful application that can scan a barcode and provide accurate and timely pricing, information and nearby alternatives. And bonus: Its’ free!
Review: Here at RCR Wireless a select few of us (us being the females) love to shop, and live for finding the best deals. However, if you’re already out and about, this usually takes some leg work: Visit one store, find desired item, call or visit a second store and see if item is there, hope it’s still there when you arrive.
Yes, one could always turn to their data-enable handset, get on the Internet, go to a store’s web site, check inventory, blah blah blah. What were we shopping for again? ShopSavvy takes all those steps out of the process.
Once the application is loaded and opened there are a few options. The first and most essential is the “search for a product” tab. Once this is opened, the phone’s camera automatically loads with a blinking red line across the middle of the viewfinder. Hold that red line over the desired barcode and it will recognize the barcode, beep and then provide you with shopping results based on that barcode.
The results show a photo of the product as well as where you can find the product on the Web and in local stores and for how much. There is also the option to save the product so that ShopSavvy can alert you when the product goes on sale or drops to the price of your liking. There’s also the option of adding it to a wish list.
In our cursory tests we scanned a Burt’s Beeswax Lip Balm priced at $2.99 at our local Target. However, our ShopSavvy search results showed the same product available for $3.50 at the nearby Walgreens and for $1.35 at Amazon.com. Other online shopping sites had it for as much as $5.
On selecting a specific, local result, we were presented with the option to call the store or get directions to it.
ShopSavvy is available via the Google Android platform and recently won the Android Developer Challenge event, which doesn’t surprise us at all.