Smart Phone Apps Help Holiday Shopping Headaches

ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA) -- Shopping malls can be a crowded and confusing place during Christmas. But if you have an iPhone, there's several applications you can download to help ease the holiday shopping headache.

Let's say you're shopping at a mall that you've never been to or you're unfamiliar with the layout. Typically, you would walk up to the store directory to figure out where you want to go. But, if you download an iPhone app called Mall Maps, it lets you look at the store plan for any mall in the United States. Then, using the phone's built-in GPS, it will guide you straight to the store you're looking for.

If you want to make sure you're getting the best deal on a possible Christmas gift, then check out a bar code scanning application, like Red Laser. Just align the phone's camera with the bar code of any product, and Red Laser will compare the store's price with other retailers online.

Once you've got the gift, now you need your car. Can't remember where you parked? Then use an app called G-Park. Simply place a marker on the G-Park map when you park your car, and then it will guide you to it using the iPhone's GPS when you're ready to leave.

All of these apps can be downloaded from Apple's App Store and they cost between $.99 and $2.99.