According to Reuters, Walmart is planning to expand their “Scan & Go” program that allows customers to scan items and checkout using their iPhone. The program now be available in over 200 stores, up from 70 that were part of the pilot program. Walmart currently has over 4,000 stores in the U.S., so the number still represents a small fraction of locations. “Scan & Go” is exclusive to iPhone, with an Android version coming soon.
Stores in the program allow consumers to scan items as they shop. When they are ready to check-out, they pay using a self-checkout screen. Walmart says that 1,500 stores have self-checkout lanes and they have plans to expand upon that. This would pave the way for future expansion of Scan & Go, should their pilot program continue to work for both Walmart and customers.
Scan & Go will be available in these markets: Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; Omaha, Nebraska; Dallas and Austin, Texas; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wyoming; Bozeman, Montana; Seattle, Washington; San Jose, California; and Portland, Oregon.
What’s missing here is an easy way to pay using the iPhone. Passbook or maybe the continuously rumored NFC payment system that might find its way to the iPhone 5S.
Source: Reuters
Written By 