Already mapping your scaled-back holiday shopping?

There's a brand new way to make sure you're getting the best deal wherever you are: A software application called ShopSavvy.

Right now ShopSavvy runs only on the new and advanced G1 cellphone. Point the G1's camera at the barcode on any consumer product and it then searches the Internet for the best deals.

Alex Muse and Ryan Barnes are two Dallas guys who developed ShopSavvy. Their software could just revolutionize bargain shopping — and it couldn't come at a better time.

"I think it's a game-changer," Barnes said. "It reverses the power in a retail setting and puts it in the hands of the consumer."

Again, you'll need a G1 phone from T-Mobile to use ShopSavvy, and the G1 costs at least $180 with a monthly contract commitment.

Because the G1 has global positioning technology built-in, it knows where you are when you scan a barcode. That means it can not only show you prices for a product on the Web; it can also search retail outlets in your neghborhood and pinpoint their locations on a map.

We aimed the G1's camera at the product box for a Logitech Web cam. ShopSavvy showed us a $75 spread between the highest and lowest prices for the same camera — and offered three local shops if we want to buy it today.

The High School Musical DVD game sells for between $17 and $30, according to ShopSavvy's inquiries.

Scanning the Nintendo Wii video game gave us us prices ranging from $220 to $520.

You can also set up ShopSavvy to watch out for the best deals.

"If that got down to $1,500, I might take it," software developer Alexander Muse said. "Go ahead and enter $1,500 and we'll send you an e-mail when the price gets down to that point."

And it works everywhere the phone can get a connection.

"I'm always looking for the best price," said bargain shopper Dana Marie Heffner.

And so were we. Using ShopSavvy to price three holiday gifts, we could have saved $200 — and that savings includes the price we had to pay for the G1 phone!

E-mail bhawkins@wfaa.com