Big in Japan and DeaLoco have combined forces to improve shopping apps on mobile. ShopSavvy, from Big in Japan, is a mobile app and barcode scanner. When a user scans the barcode on any product, ShopSavvy searches for other on-line or local retailers that might sell it cheaper. DeaLoco is a bargain hunting site that updates daily with internet shopping deals and coupons.
With the new deal, users checking prices on items using ShopSavvy will automatically get shown any on-line deals for that item from the DeaLoco database.
ShopSavvy is the 2008 winner of Google’s Android Developer challenge and is available in Google’s mobile application store.
From the release:
“With ShopSavvy a user can simply scan the barcode of any item using the T-Mobile G1 phone’s camera and the application will run an online price comparison on the spot,” said Steve Cospolich, Founder of DeaLoco. “Thanks to our partnership, ShopSavvy users now have the added benefit of searching the DeaLoco deals database each time they scan a barcode. If a particular deal exists in our database, the information is provided on the ShopSavvy results screen. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Big in Japan. The fact that our customers will now be able to find better deals via their mobile phone is a win -win for everyone. Shopping – and saving money – just got a whole lot easier.”
From the release:
Back in January, we ran a piece on an on-line site called Tjoos that offers a similar service. At the time I said that mobile barcode readers should pay attention to this one, and I’m delighted that someone was. I’m honestly excited about this service. On-line price check, combined with local search and directions via GPS is a great shopping service. There’s just two problems. Two pretty huge problems. The service is only available on Android, and it focuses on American internet retailers.
I guess I’ll continue to watch for a cross-nation, cross-platform version of this service.
Big In Japan’s ShopSavvy application sounds a lot like the following:
NeoMedia Patent #6,651,053 — Interactive system for investigating products on a network
An interactive search system for use with a global computer network, e.g., the Internet, using a search identifying barcode to rapidly and effectively obtain a supply of related information for presentation to a user. A computer, either landline based or mobile, may be used to input a UPC code, taken from a package or advertisement or prestored in the computer, to an implementing server on the network. The server contains a database of product and manufacturer identifying UPC codes and uses the input UPC code and the database to identify the manufacturer and is programmed to then perform a search of the network to locate sites relating to or operated by the manufacturer. Also, the server may search the network on a product basis to locate other sites containing the UPC under search. Using “parsing” technology, the server “pulls out” the product description, transmits it to and places it in a random access memory (RAM) or storage of the computer, and proceeds to perform further searching relying on the product description to uncover relevant information. Accordingly, using a single input, a collection of product-related and manufacturer information is quickly assembled in the computer available for a user’s consideration all at once at any time.
Hmmmmm . . . . .
This patent describtion is exactly what price checkers and other data gathering devices like PDA’s have been doing since 1992. So shall I patent the gearbox and see everybody in court?
ShopSavvy is such a succes because the focus is not on protecting IP but creating a service that consumers want to Use. And cunsumers are using it big time.
Ron,
ShopSavvy will have to license NeoMedia’s patents if they wish to continue operating.
NeoMedia Technologies grandfathered this technology back in the mid 90’s and have been doing mobile code scanning and comparison shopping via barcodes long before any other company in this space.
NeoMedia on ABC & NBC News circa 2004:
http://www.qode.com/videos/PaperClickOnAbc7.wmv
http://www.qode.com/videos/PaperClickOnNbc8.wmv
NeoMedia has a rich patent portfolio that covers scanning barcodes with a camera enabled mobile device to connect to the Internet, comparison shop, and/or retrieve online content.
http://www.qode.com/en/patents.jsp
I believe that “rich patent portfolio” of Neomedia’s is riddled with loopholes thanks to the fine print on the USPTO decision. Let’s hope the competition can work around it and preserve the open source environment for this technology to the benefit of all consumers!