UK retailer Debenhams has launched a transactional shopping app for Android and Nokia handsets, following the successful launch of its iPhone app in October 2010, which has so far achieved 360,000 downloads and sales of almost £1m.

The apps enable customers to narrow down the selection of items displayed by type, brand, colour, price and size. Bargain-hunting shoppers can also opt to shop for sale items only.

A ‘Wish List’ feature enables users to create a shopping list and email it to friends and family as gift ideas for birthdays and Christmas. Wish lists can be created either by scanning products in store or selecting them from within the app. A ‘Store Finder’ feature helps customers to locate their nearest Debenhams store and view store contact details, opening hours, facilities and a floor guide.

The star feature of the Android app is a barcode scanner, which can be used to scan product barcodes, for price checks and reviews. The barcode scanner has proved a popular feature on the iPhone app, with customers using it over 90,000 times. Debenhams customers can also use the scanner to access exclusive products and offers by scanning QR codes in-store, and on Debenhams advertising.

“Our iPhone app has already seen 2.4m shopping sessions, with 110,000 customers using the app more than five times,” notes Harriet Williams, head of digital development for Debenhams. “Launching on the Android and Nokia platforms opens Debenhams mobile shopping to millions more customers, bridging the gap between the high street and Debenhams.com… Downloading the Debenhams app means getting lost, not being able to find your size and having to carry heavy bags home are pitfalls of shopping trips past.”