Well, Frucall is addressing that problem with their free phone-based service. It automatically finds the current and best online price for any product from any phone! It utilizes Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Street Prices and Shopping.com to get results.

Here's how it works:

1. Call 1-888-DO-FRUCALL (1-888-363-7822). 2. Key-in or speak the product's barcode number. 3. Listen to the list of online retailers offering the best prices for that particular product. 4. If you want to buy the product over the phone, use the BuyNow feature.

Frucall also lets you bookmark products you searched for if you used your cell phone, as well as allowing you to leave reminder messages or send alerts. Find out how Frucall worked for me, after the jump.

I called the toll-free number, and punched in the barcodes from two different photo frames from Parrot and PanDigital. Unfortunately, the system didn't recognize these, probably because they are still new. Then I tried punching in the barcode from the Unotron Wireless Washable Keyboard. That worked!

Then I was told to punch in my zip code for shipping. The system went ahead and told me about three online retailers that are selling the item, followed by the estimated price:
ComputerNerds International $69; Amazon $73; ComputerBrain $73.

However, it was very difficult to hear what the system was saying, since obviously they have someone record different words to say and then try and piece them tomorrow. The voice was too fast and muffled. I had to repeat the listings three times.

Then, if you press 2, you can buy the product if you've already registered your billing and shipping info at Frucall.com. However, the system only let me purchase from Computer Nerds and not the other two retailers. Strange!