Simon Property Group (Indianapolis), in collaboration with eBay Inc.’s (San Francisco) Retail Innovation Division, have begun testing an interactive directory designed to make navigating shopping malls easier for customers. The first units of the “Connected Mall” system debuted earlier this month at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, Calif. The units, located at high-traffic areas throughout the complex, feature six-foot LCDs with high-definition, all- weather touch screens. The units display 3-D, rotatable maps and provide coupons and other promotional information, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Shoppers can enter their phone number onscreen to deliver desired information, including routes, services and discounts to their phones.
The Stanford center has four double-sided Connected Mall terminals. Simon says that while the system is still in test phases, it hopes to roll out Connected Mall to other malls and shopping centers.