Amazon has just made it easier for iPhone users to purchase stuff from it with an update of the Amazon for iPhone app, bumping the version to 1.2.8. The latest version includes a barcode scanner in its search screen, allowing it to use your iPhone’s camera to snap a picture of a product’s barcode, searching Amazon’s servers to find a match, after which you can sign into your account to purchase the product on the spot. It’s a useful way for shoppers to compare prices, and more importantly, it helps Amazon get one over traditional brick and mortar stores by luring users with the ease of purchasing from them without having to go back to their computer. Of course, Amazon’s iPhone app isn’t the first to match barcodes to a database for comparison, but the ability to make purchases directly to Amazon from the app will definitely make things easier for the shopper. The app is available for free and barcode scanning will work on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS which are running on iOS 4.
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