News

Apple hopes to make shopping more social

December 29, 2010

Apple wants to make shopping even more social, according to appleinsider.com.

This week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office made public Apple's patent, "Social Networking in Shopping Environments" that describes how customers could use a portable electronic device, like an iPhone, to network with one another while shopping.

"In a store, a kiosk would allow customers to access a product list and information on their phone. That product and the details about it could then be shared through Apple's social networking tool," stated appleinsider.com

In one example, a user can send product information to their friends' mobile device. From there, friends can review the products and provide their own comments and feedback.

The system could be as simple as providing friends the ability to give a "yes" or "no" answer, or a virtual "thumbs up" or "thumbs down." In one example, a shopper asks their friends, "Should I buy this?" In another, a husband asks "Help, I need birthday gift ideas for my wife. Will she like this?"

The article did not include a timeframe of when the project could be launched, but Apple filed the patent Jan. 26, 2009.