Mobile-Net

Comparison Shopping with a Cellphone

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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

About the Author

Joel Walsh writes for Frucall, the new service for online comparison shopping: http://www.frucall.com

Bluetooth Camera TV FM eBook 2.0" QWERTY Unlocked Bar Cellphone

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

Verizon Htc REZOUND Android Cell PHONE ADR6425 Clean Esn $259.99 Time Remaining: 21d 13h 2m Buy It Now for only: $259.99 Buy It Now

Nokia 3310 Mobile Phone unlocked $10.27 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 16m

Mint Blackberry Torch 9850 4GB Black Sprint Smart Cell Phone Rim $175.00 Time Remaining: 12h 39m

NEW LG 300G Net10 Prepaid Cell Phone FREE MINUTES AIRTIME 60 DAY SERVICE $10.99 Time Remaining: 28d 20h 50m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

NEW Rim Blackberry 8310 Curve Unlocked Cell Phone Att Red Smartphone $89.94 Time Remaining: 1h 40m Buy It Now for only: $99.55 Buy It Now

BlackBerry Bold 9650 Black Verizon Cell Phone w Camera Clean ESN $94.99 Time Remaining: 5d 10h 15m Buy It Now for only: $94.99 Buy It Now

HTC Inspire 4G 4GB Black Smartphone Att Cell Phone Cellular $81.00 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 15h 17m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 Buy It Now

NEW LG GC900 Viewty Smart 8MP ATT T MOBIL CELL PHONE $71.00 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 21m

HTC EVO 4G Black Sprint Cell Phone Clean ESN $99.99 Time Remaining: 5d 9h 16m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 Buy It Now

NEW LG KM900 Arena 8GB GPS 5MP ATT T MOBIL CELL PHONE $51.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 22m

Samsung Omnia SCH i910 Touch Screen CELL PHONE VERIZON $42.99 Time Remaining: 3d 17h 27m Buy It Now for only: $42.99 Buy It Now

Apple Iphone 4 32GB White ATT Cell Phone $71.95 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 16h 13m

BRAND NEW BlackBerry Curve 8530 Black Verizon Smartphone Cell PHONE Page Plus $62.94 Time Remaining: 1h 37m Buy It Now for only: $69.99 Buy It Now

LG Glance VX7100VERIZON PAGE PLUS NO CONTRACT CELLULAR PHONE $38.96 Time Remaining: 6d 11h 38m Buy It Now for only: $38.96 Buy It Now

HTC Droid Incredible ADR6300 8GB Verizon Android Bluetooth 8MP Camera Cell Phone $99.95 Time Remaining: 1d 8h 59m Buy It Now for only: $114.95 Buy It Now

NEW SAMSUNG MYTHIC A897 BLACK ATT UNLOCKED 3G Gps Touch Screen Cell PHONE $84.42 Time Remaining: 12d 11h 6m Buy It Now for only: $84.42 Buy It Now

Good Samsung GALAXY PREVAIL M820 820 ANDROID CELL PHONE FOR BOOST 1 DAY LISTING $35.01 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 14m

Motorola Moto VU204 CELL PHONE FOR Verizon Wireless BLACK NEW $49.99 Time Remaining: 13d 17h 23m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 Buy It Now

Apple iPHONE 4 16GB White ATT Cell Phone $22.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 20h 47m

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $208.65 (27 Bids) Time Remaining: 8h 18m

NEW SEALED Palm Pixi Sprint Pda Cell Phone Smartphone Pcs Cdma Bar Black 8GB 3g $58.85 Time Remaining: 18h 41m Buy It Now for only: $58.85 Buy It Now

Great Rim BlackBerry 8530 Curve 2 Verizon Wireles Cell Phone Page Plus WiFi GPS $56.55 Time Remaining: 1h 48m

Samsung SGH A697 Sunburst Black ATT Cellular Phone $28.99 Time Remaining: 26d 7h 56m Buy It Now for only: $28.99 Buy It Now

NEW LG KM900 Arena 8GB GPS 5MP ATT T MOBIL CELL PHONE $50.00 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 49m

NEW LG GC900 Viewty Smart 8MP ATT T MOBIL CELL PHONE $10.75 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 3m Buy It Now for only: $108.00 Buy It Now

NEW Sony Ericsson TM717 Equinox Black T Mobile Cellular Phone $78.50 Time Remaining: 28d 12h 24m Buy It Now for only: $78.50 Buy It Now

GOOD SAMSUNG GALAXY PREVAIL M820 820 ANDROID CELL PHONE FOR BOOST 1 DAY LISTING $5.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 14m

NEW PALM PIXI PLUS VERIZON WIRELESS Cdma Cell PHONE $47.99 Time Remaining: 15d 13h 30m Buy It Now for only: $47.99 Buy It Now

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $121.71 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 19m

Apple iPHONE 4 32GB Black ATT Cell Phone $107.50 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 19h 59m

NEW Samsung Solstice A887 Unlocked GSM Quad Band Cell Phone ATT T Mobile $68.95 Time Remaining: 6d 13h 43m Buy It Now for only: $68.95 Buy It Now

Nokia XpressMusic 5310 Black Blue Unlocked Cell PhoneWORKS GREATGOOD CNDT $54.99 Time Remaining: 14h 13m Buy It Now for only: $64.99 Buy It Now

Samsung u370 Refresh Black Reality Verizon Cell Phone FAIR $36.21 Time Remaining: 11h 34m Buy It Now for only: $36.21 Buy It Now

NEW LG GC900 Viewty Smart 8MP ATT T MOBIL CELL PHONE $1.25 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 45m Buy It Now for only: $108.00 Buy It Now

Virgin Mobile Blackberry CURVE 8530 Smartphone Pay As You Go Cell Phone NIB $114.00 Time Remaining: 20h 1m Buy It Now for only: $114.00 Buy It Now

NEW LG KM900 Arena 8GB GPS 5MP ATT T MOBIL CELL PHONE $1.04 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 19h 15m Buy It Now for only: $93.00 Buy It Now

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $105.91 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 12h 18m

New LG GS390 Prime Silver Unlocked Touchscreen Cell Phone ATT $67.82 Time Remaining: 26d 10h 43m Buy It Now for only: $67.82 Buy It Now

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $105.91 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 18m

New Samsung SGH A887 Solstice Black ATT 3G Touch Cellular Phone $99.99 Time Remaining: 2d 14h 30m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 Buy It Now

Apple iPHONE 4 16GB White ATT Cell Phone $16.50 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 17h 54m

LOT OF 3 BLACKBERRY Tour 9630 Verizon Pda CELL PHONES Smartphones B GRADE $182.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 14h 4m

BOOST SAMSUNG M580 REPLENISH WIFI GPS ANDROID CAMERA CELL PHONE $59.95 Time Remaining: 14h 3m Buy It Now for only: $59.95 Buy It Now

Apple iPHONE 4S 16GB Black ATT Cell Phone $102.50 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 19h 38m

NEW BlackBerry Curve 8330 Pink VERIZON PAGE PLUS Cell Phone NO CONTRACT $42.75 Time Remaining: 21d 11h 18m Buy It Now for only: $42.75 Buy It Now

Kyocera Brio Dark Grey Sprint Cellular Phone S3015 $45.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 7h 51m

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $80.62 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 19m

New LG GS390 Prime Silver Att Touchscreen Cell Phone $64.97 Time Remaining: 26d 10h 43m Buy It Now for only: $64.97 Buy It Now

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $169.13 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 7h 18m

VERIZON WIRELESS Palm Centro 690 PDA SMART CELL PHONE $24.95 Time Remaining: 10d 16h 8m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 Buy It Now

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900 MOBILE PHONE $161.23 (25 Bids) Time Remaining: 9h 18m

Wilson Electronics 801247 Desktop (DT) Cell Phone Signal Booster for Home or Office - For Multiple Users List Price: $399.95 Sale Price: $240.96 You save: $158.99 (40%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Designed to give the best results when used in a single room, the Wilson Electronics Desktop (DT) Cell Phone Signal Booster increases your cell phone's signal by more than 15 times. It significantly improves your cell phone's overall performance by minimizing dropped calls, increasing data rates, and letting you enjoy clearer reception, making the Wilson DT the ideal solution in an office or at home...

Samsung SGH a177 - Cellular phone - GSM - bar - QWERTY - black - AT&T List Price: $199.99 Sale Price: $79.99 You save: $120.00 (60%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Introducing the new Samsung unlocked a177, the ultimate expression in messaging, style and value. Heavy on functionality and light on the budget, the a177 boasts a full QWERTY keyboard so you can express yourself through text messaging, mobile email and instant messaging...

Naztech Boa Case - Medium and Larger Bar Phones - Cal-Comp / Kyocera / Motorola / Nokia / Samsung - Brownie Brown List Price: $34.95 Sale Price: $19.99 You save: $14.96 (43%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Boa form and function. The Naztech Boa case combines beauty with functionality by utilizing superior materials and workmanship. Naztech Boa cases for men and women supply elite style and superior performance for today's cognoscenti: those who demand and appreciate the finest...

Fonegear NFL Universal Phone Case for Most Flip and Bar Style Phones - Detroit Lions List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 You save: $10.00 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description This authorized Motorola molded NFL case lets you show off your team spirit, and carry your phone in style!  Our high-quality cases feature NFL team logos in colorful relief, durable construction, a swivel belt clip, and a limited lifetime warranty...

Arkon SM032 Water Resistant Protective Case for Smartphone with Motorcycle and Bicycle Mount List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $15.26 You save: $14.69 (49%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Arkon's SM032 Bicycle, Motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile mount with water resistant protective case for Smartpohone protects your device while on the handle bars. The must have accessory for your bicycle or motorcycle...

iPhone: The Missing Manual List Price: $24.99 See Reviews For This Product Description Written by New York Times columnist and Missing Manual series creator David Pogue, this first-to-market update shows readers and tire kickers everything they need to know to get the most out of their new Apple iPhone...

iPhone: The Missing Manual: Covers the iPhone 3G List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $15.93 See Reviews For This Product Description Written by New York Times columnist and Missing Manual series creator David Pogue, this first-to-market update shows readers and tire kickers everything they need to know to get the most out of their new Apple iPhone...

Nokia 6600 Fold 3G Quadband GSM World Phone (Unlocked) Sale Price: $257.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days See Reviews For This Product

Cell Ranger USB-Powered Cell Phone Signal Booster List Price: $119.99 Sale Price: $93.94 You save: $26.05 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description The Cell Ranger PORT is an Intelligent Amplifier that boosts signal strength to your cell phone or laptop air card. Cell Ranger is a next-generation microprocessor-driven system that gives you reliability and performance enhancements not found with ?mesh? stick-on and ?repeater? antenna boosters...

LG KP500 Cookie Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera and Digital Media Player--International Version with Warranty (Black) List Price: $124.99 Sale Price: $101.94 You save: $23.05 (18%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Designed to allow more people to experience a taste of touch technology at an attractive price, the LG KP500 Cookie is packed full of advanced features usually found exclusively in premium full touchscreen handsets...