Coming soon: Shopping by cell phone

Motorola will join several companies in a new venture to allow consumers to use cell phones or PDAs to scan bar codes to buy products.

The plan will make use of Web codes embedded on products and printed in ads in newspapers, magazines or posters, or even shown on television. When a consumer clicks on the code, the product will be ordered instantly via the Internet using the personal data already stored on the device. Officials said some devices should be available in the fourth quarter, with mass quantities coming next year.

A complete report is located at www.zdnn.com.