Self-service shopping option intro'd by NCR, Symbol

DALLAS - Shoppers will soon be able to scan items in the aisles of stores, drop them into carts and pay on the way out, if a collaboration between NCR Corp. (NYSE:NCR) and Symbol Technologies Inc. (NYSE: SBL) is successful.

A pilot project for the new system will be launched "soon", at a major food retailer, according to an NCR news release.

NCR, a pioneer in self-checkout technology, and Symbol, which has developed innovative portable scanning devices, announced the deal at the Marketechnics Trade Show and Exposition. The arrangement combines the NCR FastLane product with Symbol's Portable Shopping System.

A key advantage for shoppers is the ability to maintain a running total of purchases using a handheld scanner. NCR calls it a "secure, convenient and fun alternative to traditional checkout."