Walmart’s iPhone App Has “In-Store” Mode

November 14th, 2012

Walmart is taking advantage of mobile devices to make their stores less sucky:

If you opt in, Walmart will use your location to provide you with an app designed specifically for that store. Head to another Walmart and your app will work for that store. It has useful features: You can make a list by speaking into the phone. You can search a product by typing in a word or phrase — tissues, say, or light bulbs — and the app will show you what aisle to go to. It has an interactive map. It shows you promotions specific to that store. And Walmart is testing a feature called “Scan & Go” that would you scan can items as you shop, so you can go quickly through self-checkout.

Cheers to Walmart for embracing mobile computing to make their stores better, and especially for using it to make the checkout process better. I go out of my way to avoid Walmart because, among other reasons, their checkout process is dreadful.