Comparison Shopping with a Cellphone
By
How often do you find something at a store and wonder how much cheaper you could get it online? Now you don’t have to wonder–you can call 1-888-FRU-SHOP. That’s the number for Frucall, a first-of-its-kind price-comparison shopping service currently in Beta.
How Does Frucall Work?
Frucall is pretty simple to use despite all the technology behind it:
*Call 1-888-FRU-SHOP from any phone in the US.
At the prompt, enter the product’s bar code number. That’s the number directly below the bar code. (Hint: don’t forget the first and last digits, which may be offset from the rest of the code.)
*A computerized voice confirms the product’s name and states the price, as well as shipping information.
*The whole process takes about ten seconds. There are no signups, no downloads, and funky add-on services or charges to your phone bill.
Beta Limitations
Frucall has been launched to the public in Beta mode, though it has already been tested for more than two months on an invitation-only basis. The Beta service works well, though there are still a few limitations:
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During the initial Beta period, Frucall only searches Amazon. The designers, however, are planning on adding additional sites soon. They eventually expect it to become an internet-wide ecommerce price comparison service for cell phones.
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Because the Beta only searches Amazon, you can’t use it for things that aren’t sold on Amazon. The Beta is most valuable when you’re out shopping for clothes, appliances, electronics, books, music, DVDs and stuff like that, but for now you cannot use it for grocery shopping.
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You won’t be able to buy the product using your phone until this feature is implemented sometime in summer 2006.
First-Ever Voice-Activated Mobile Price Comparison Service
Mobile phone technologies are all the rage these days, from movies to games to weather reports to shopping. For the most part, these technologies have a dedicated core of people who tend to be very comfortable navigating all the options on the little screens and touch pads of their cell phones. Right now, mobile applications aren’t as appealing to people who are less nimble-fingered, less technologically savvy–or just less patient.
Frucall, however, might just be the first mobile application both you and your grandmother could use. The usability factor for Frucall is high since it’s all voice-activated, and, ultimately, that’s what cell phones were made for: talking, not running software.
Looking out for people who actually like mobile software, Frucall’s designers are working on a WAP (mobile application) version as well, which will be available in a couple of months.
In the meantime, Frucall’s voice-activated interface is a blessing for die-hard cheapskates: they can call the toll-free number from a payphone without even having to pay cellphone airtime.
In short, if you’re serious about saving money, you just got another tool in your toolbox.
Watch the video related to cellphone technology
Robots putting together cell phones.
11 Comments
July 12th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
this is so cool
July 12th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I love the arm tooling in this clip, very multifunctional.
July 12th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
CDMA is only used in the United States
GSM is used World Wide.
If you dont think you will be traveling in the near future, I recommend Verizon Wireless, they have great reception but a bit pricey same a Sprint.
AT&T has the better connection for the GSM network, thought T-Mobile is cheaper but reception is not found everywhere.
Hope this helps.
July 12th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
The fact that our society is over-dependent on tecnology means that in the event of a power outage we wouldn't be able to function.
July 12th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
July 12th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
The technology allows for it, but I don't think any phones have been designed with this feature. With a bluetooth range of about 30 feet though, why not try talking loudly instead?
July 14th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
The reason is mostly the cost. the airline signal has so many restrictions. And if you've flown lately they have been taking many of the phones out. The cost isn't worth it to the airlines. But it would be nice if they did use that type of signal.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:32 am
the USA is really behind when it comes to cell phones
you think those london phones are awesome, japan has had 3G since around 2000 too but theyre phones get free wireless TV signals, they have camera, mp3, phone, etc, etc, PLUS they have a special reader for barcodes to buy stuff/ get more info on it.
some of them work as a bus pass too
i wish america was more advanced….
BTW, at&t sucks
July 15th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
i work for t-mobile in london and i know why the us does not have it. its because they're 3G network is not fast enough to support voice and data at the same time. not even at&t's or verizon's wireless 3G network is fast enough. i have heard that the usa is working hard to get their network up to date. but i heard that by the time they finish its going to be around 2010 when they get 4G. verizon wireless i heard will be offering it when they jump to 4G because i know that there network runs on cdma but when they get LTE long term evolution aka 4G that they're going to be switching to gsm which will provide them with video calling. i don't know anything about at&t. so im guessing u guys are going to have to wait until at least 2010 or unless it happens earlier like in 2009. look at the link i put below for u could see that t-mobile uk has had video calling since 2001
July 15th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Subject: How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
July 16th, 2009 at 2:26 am
to me the most important revolution is still to come.. the low cost cell phones!
for millions of people, in Africa, Asia, the first electronic device they will own is a cell phone, and without needing cable all around these areas, they are going to be connected with the rest of the world very easily… and communication, information is everything to get started