Apps for phones a booming industry

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Scott Stein's smart phone can multi-task.

"I think of the iPhone as a Swiss Army Knife. I use it as an e-reader, I use it to scan pictures, I use it to get directions," said Stein.

He's loaded up his iPhone with hundreds of mini programs called applications, better known as apps. The GPS app is one of his favorites. And so is an art program called brushes that lets him channel his inner artist.

With more than 85,000 apps to choose from, word of mouth is key. Like with the popular red laser. It uses the phone's camera to read bar codes on products, then comes up with a list of competitive prices. Heaven for bargain hunters.

Smart phones like the Blackberry, iPhone and Android have app stores that let you browse, then download right to your phone. Many are free, others sell for just a dollar or two, and could go a long way for the people on your gift list.

>> download the WIVB.com app for your iPhone - it's free!

Joseph Kaminski buys apps for his Android.

Kaminski said, "I could buy movie tickets, you name it. Transfer money from my savings to my checking so I can cover my bar tab."

And he covers his music library through Shazam. Holding up his phone to the radio, it identifies songs he likes and lets him buy them on the spot.

If it seems like a lot to choose from, just wait. All agree, this is a young industry that's in for a giant growth spurt.

You can also buy gift cards for apps and Apple is banking on that being a big seller for the holidays. It started offering apps just a year ago, and customers have already downloaded more than 2 billion. There is also a WIVB app which allows you get get all the latest news, weather and sports directly on your iPhone or iPod Touch.