A chain of German supermarkets have utilized cellphones to make it possible for the purchases to be scanned directly from the cellphone. This idea was launched by Real in a store called The Future Store which was opened near Duesseldorf.

They have software you can download directly to your cellphone. Then as you go through the store you use the camera on your phone to scan each item. Once you’re finished shopping you press a button on the phone to conclude the process which brings up a barcode on the screen.

You allow the machine near the door to scan the barcode and you pay there. The only thing I’d like to know is how they handle security. After seeing all the work they put into the store to make it futuristic, there has to be a way they’re doing it. If you’d like to see what the store looks like, the BBC has a video up on it.

[via geeksaresexy]