This feature of the self checkout in store locations has been broadened through its app for iPhones.

Walmart has been testing its mobile payments feature through a self checkout process at some of its store locations has now announced that it will be broadening the pilot program to reach 40 stores in the Denver area.

The retail giant uses QR codes generated by an iPhone app, which can be scanned at a checkout terminal.

This allows the iPhone users to scan all of their own products while the cart is being filled, and then indicate when they have picked up all of the items that they intend to buy. At that point, a unique QR code is generated, and this can be scanned by one of the self checkout terminal devices in order to complete the mobile payments transaction.

Walmart has been investigating many ways to use mobile payments and mcommerce to its best advantage.

This effort includes not only looking into ways that customers can use mobile payments, but also simply to speed up the checkout process through its “Scan & Go” iPhone app. As of yet, none of these programs have been rolled out universally to all of its locations, but these mcommerce opportunities are being tested in a number of stores in the Denver area, as well as in Atlanta, Northwest Arkansas, San Jose (California) and Portland (Oregon).

This new app lets the consumer scan the products as they are being placed into the shopping cart or basket, eliminating the need to do so at the checkout counter. Once all of the items are scanned, the iPhone app creates a list of all of the products that have been scanned, and represents them with QR codes that can be used by the readers at the checkout terminals. This allows the various traditional and mobile payment options to be presented to the consumer.

Walmart stores have been focusing heavily on mobile payments and particularly on self checkout since October 2012. It was at that time that the retailer announced that NCR would be the checkout terminal vendor for the tests as well as for the complete American rollout, which is expected by the end of 2013.

Metaio makes a breakthrough in augmented reality

Metaio, a pioneer of augmented reality technology, has long held a focus on software for mobile devices. The company specializes in augmented reality and has produced many of the world’s most acclaimed AR applications, with an emphasis on showing off the capabilities of the technology. Metaio is now looking to expand into the realm of hardware as it works to ensure that mobile devices can live up to the demands of augmented reality.

AR Engine to expand the capabilities of interactive technology

Metaio has partnered with ST-Ericsson to develop a new hardware chipset called AR Engine. This is the first time Metaio has developed hardware for the purpose of augmented reality and the company believes that it will help expand the capabilities of the technology significantly. The AR Engine is designed to be implemented into a new generation of smartphones and tablets and the entirety of its processing power will be devoted to augmented reality. This means significant improvements in the speed and performance of the technology.

Large-scale augmented reality experiences possible through new chipset

The chipsets exclusive focus on augmented reality will make AR applications run more smoothly on mobile devices. It will also boost performance, allowing for large-scale augmented reality experience, which Metaio suggests could encompass an entire city. The AR Engine also includes improvements to power consumption for particular mobile devices, allowing for “all day” augmented reality capabilities. Metaio CTO Peter Meier suggests that the AR Engine will do for the technology what the GPU did for the game industry several years ago.

AR Engine help realize Augmented City concept

In 2011, Metaio introduced the concept of the Augmented City, the idea of an environment that is completely powered by augmented reality. The firm demonstrated this concept at conferences all over the world, showing how augmented reality could be used as more than just entertainment and navigation. With the AR Engine, Metaio believes that it could move one step closer to making the Augmented City concept a reality.