Data Capture Technologies and

Financial Software for Collecting 

Consumer Expenditure Data

 

March 11, 2011 

Prepared for:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20212

Prepared by:

Westat

1600 Research Boulevard

Rockville, Maryland 20850-3129

(301) 251-1500
Table of Contents

Executive Summary.............................................................................................................................. i

History and Purpose of the Consumer Expenditure Survey........................................................ 1

Current data collection methodology ......................................................................... 1

Diary Survey...................................................................................................... 1

Quarterly Interview Survey ............................................................................ 2

Potential measurement error ........................................................................................ 3

Purpose of this project................................................................................................... 4

Method for this project........................................................................................................................ 5

Method.............................................................................................................................. 5

Identifying the technologies........................................................................... 5

Listing products in each technology category ............................................ 5

Researching the capabilities of the products............................................... 5

Creating matrices.............................................................................................. 6

Proposing solutions.......................................................................................... 6

Final report....................................................................................................................... 6

Reviewed technologies........................................................................................................................ 7

Financial software packages ........................................................................................ 7

Approach ............................................................................................................ 7

Credit card, debit card, and checking account data ................................... 7

Register of expenditures.................................................................................. 8

Categorization.................................................................................................... 9

Manual entry of expenses................................................................................ 9

Transaction reconciliation............................................................................... 9

Expense splitting............................................................................................... 9

Notations...........................................................................................................10

Returns and exchanges ..................................................................................10

Calendars..........................................................................................................10

Data export.......................................................................................................11

SDK ............................................................................................................11

Platforms...........................................................................................................12

Multiple users..................................................................................................12

Unusual features..............................................................................................12

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................13

Mobile carriers..............................................................................................................14

Capabilities and speed ...................................................................................14

Price ............................................................................................................15

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................15

Mobile operating systems...........................................................................................15

Apple iOS.........................................................................................................16

Blackberry OS ................................................................................................. 16

Android ............................................................................................................16

webOS ............................................................................................................17

Microsoft Windows Mobile..........................................................................17
Target markets................................................................................................. 17

Multitasking.....................................................................................................18

Applications available....................................................................................18

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................18

Smart phones.................................................................................................................18

Keyboard ..........................................................................................................18

Image Capture ................................................................................................. 19

Audio Capture ................................................................................................. 19

Texting and Email...........................................................................................19

Physical Characteristics.................................................................................19

Built in GPS.....................................................................................................19

Carrier Availability.........................................................................................20

Battery life........................................................................................................20

Cost ............................................................................................................20

Westat’s experience........................................................................................20

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................20

Financial applications for smart phones..................................................................22

Devices supported...........................................................................................23

Options for entry of expense information..................................................23

Data captured...................................................................................................23

Expense categorization..................................................................................23

Data export and integration with other tools.............................................23

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................24

Barcode reader software for smart phones..............................................................24

Availability.......................................................................................................25

Operation ..........................................................................................................25

Scan History.....................................................................................................25

Capture of Additional information..............................................................25

Email capabilities............................................................................................26

SDK Availability ............................................................................................26

Cost ............................................................................................................26

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey..................................... 26

Receipt scanners...........................................................................................................26

Capabilities and accuracy..............................................................................27

Price ............................................................................................................28

Scanning versus photographing...................................................................28

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................28

Laptop computers.........................................................................................................28

Screen image quality......................................................................................29

Physical Dimensions......................................................................................29

Weight ............................................................................................................29

Battery life........................................................................................................29

Storage ............................................................................................................29

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................29

Tablet Devices...............................................................................................................30

Operating system ............................................................................................30

Storage ............................................................................................................31
Camera ............................................................................................................31

Wireless connectivity.....................................................................................31

GPS ............................................................................................................31

Multitasking.....................................................................................................31

Applications.....................................................................................................31

Battery life........................................................................................................32

Size and weight ...............................................................................................32

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey.....................................32

Potential role of technology for data collection...........................................................................33

Purchases by check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, or automatic 

fund transfer.....................................................................................34

Recurrent or large, unusual expenses.........................................................35

Purchases with receipts..................................................................................35

Purchases by cash with no receipts.............................................................36

Purchases by gift and rebate cards, food stamps, WIC vouchers, 

money orders, or cashier’s check................................................37

Purchases of items labeled with barcodes .................................................37

Online purchases.............................................................................................37

Returns and exchanges ..................................................................................38

Computer-assisted self interview ................................................................38

CASI questions about purchases listed in data files downloaded 

from banks, credit card companies, PayPal, and other 

financial institutions.......................................................................39

CASI questions about purchases listed in scanned receipts...................39

CASI questions about lists of items generated from scanned 

barcodes............................................................................................40

CASI questions about purchases reported via a smart phone 

application developed specially for the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey........................................................................40

CASI questions about purchases reported via photographs, audio 

files, text messages, or emails......................................................40

Potential advantages.......................................................................................40

Potential disadvantages..................................................................................41

The need for further research .......................................................................42

APPENDICES....................................................................................................................................43

Financial Software Products ........................................................................................44

Mobile Carrier................................................................................................................53

Mobile Device Operating Systems (OS) ....................................................................46

Mobile Smart Phone Devices......................................................................................60

Mobile Applications for Expense Data Collection ................................................. 648

Barcoding Software for Mobile Devices....................................................................67

Scanners and Relevant Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Capabilities.........70

Selected Laptops (for use by the CAPI Interviewers)..............................................74

Selected Tablet/Slate Devices......................................................................................77
i 

Executive Summary

The Consumer Expenditure Survey is a key source of data about consumer purchasing in 

America. It consists of two data collection efforts, the Quarterly Interview Survey and the Diary 

Survey. In the Quarterly Interview Survey, field interviewers conduct Computer-Assisted 

Personal Interviews at a sample of households five times over a 15-month period. Respondents 

report all expenditures for all members of their households. The Diary Survey has a separate 

sample of households. Respondents use paper-and-pencil diary forms to record all purchases by 

all household members. The diaries have a pocket for the respondents to store receipts and other 

documentation. 

The quality of the data collected in the Quarterly Interview Survey and the Diary Survey 

is currently very dependent upon the accuracy of the respondents’ memories. The respondents 

are not encouraged to use smart phones or other technologies to collect data about their 

purchases. This reliance on the respondents’ ability to recall information may have a negative 

impact on data quality. Conceivably that problem might be mitigated through the appropriate 

use of technology. 

The purpose of this project was to identify mobile data capture technologies and financial 

software packages that might be applicable to data collection for the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey and to determine how those technologies might be applied to reduce measurement error. 

Working with Bureau of Labor Statistics, the research team carried out the following 

project tasks:

• Identifying the technologies that might be useful for data collection in the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey 

• Listing products in each technology category

• Researching the capabilities and characteristics of each product

• Creating matrices showing the products, and their capabilities and characteristics

• Proposing solutions for the Consumer Expenditure Survey employing those products 

The technologies that were identified as relevant to the Consumer Expenditure Survey are 

as follows: 

• Financial software packages

• Smart phones and associated technologies including image capture, audio capture, texting 

and email

• Financial applications for smart phones 

• Barcode software for smart phones 

• Receipt scanners and optical character reader software

• Mobile carriers
ii

• Mobile operating systems

• Laptops and tablet computers 

The research team reviewed products in each of those technology categories. The team 

created matrices showing the products reviewed, and their capabilities and characteristics. The 

team considered how the products might be applied to collect data about each kind of 

expenditure: 

• Purchases by check

• Purchases by credit or debit card

• Purchases by PayPal or similar service

• Automatic fund transfers 

• Purchases with receipts

• Purchases by cash with no receipts

• Purchases by money order or cashier’s check

• WIC voucher or food stamp purchases 

• Recurrent expenses or large, unusual expenses

• Purchases by gift and rebate cards

• Purchases of items labeled with barcodes 

• Online purchases 

• Returns and exchanges

This report presents a proposal for data collection in a redesigned Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. With the proposed data collection system, the respondents could employ many 

techniques to supplement their memories when they report data in the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. The recall aids could be in many forms: 

• Data files downloaded from banks, credit card companies, PayPal, or other financial 

institutions, showing for each transaction: the date, dollar amount, and in some cases the 

payee

• Data that the respondents manually entered into their smart phones, using an application 

developed specially for the Consumer Expenditure Survey 

• Text messages about purchases. The respondent could enter a description of the items 

purchased, the price of each item, and other data

• Email messages about purchases. Again, the respondent could enter a description of the 

items purchased, the price of each item, and other data. Or, online merchants might send 

purchase confirmation emails 

• Web pages confirming online purchases 

• Barcode data that the respondents scanned into their smart phones. These barcode data 

could be converted into a list of items purchased 
iii

• Files containing scans, or possibly photographs, or receipts. OCR software would 

convert those scans or photographs into text files 

• Photographs of the place where a purchase occurred, or of the merchandise purchased

• Audio clips containing information about purchases. The respondent could record a 

description of the items purchased, the price of each item, and other data 

Of course, these recall aids would almost never contain all of the information required by 

the Consumer Expenditure Survey. For example, credit card data files show the total amounts 

for purchases, not the individual items purchased. A followup computer-administered 

questionnaire would be needed, so that the respondents could provide all the needed information. 

Respondents could send their data to a central system. That is, they could email 

photographs, audio files, downloaded account data files, purchase confirmation web pages, and 

the other recall aids to a repository that had been set up for each individual respondent. After 

having sent these data to the central system, a respondent could log in to a web site built 

specially for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The web site would administer a ComputerAssisted Self Interview (CASI) to collect all the needed data about each purchase.

This proposed data collection system has advantages and drawbacks. One advantage is 

that it allows respondents to select technologies that they prefer, such as texting or receipt 

scanning. One disadvantage is that some respondents will find technology to be cumbersome. 

Also, respondents who were unaccustomed to smart phones or other technology, or who cannot 

download data from their bank accounts simply because they have no bank accounts, might 

continue to use paper-based data collection methods. That disparity might introduce a systematic 

bias into the data. 
1 

History and Purpose of the Consumer Expenditure Survey

The Consumer Expenditure Survey is a key source of current and ongoing data about 

consumer purchasing in America. Additionally, it provides extensive data about consumers 

themselves, including statistics about income, age, education, race and occupation, and the 

number of earners in families. Researchers use these data to study, for example, the relationships 

between consumers’ demographic characteristics and purchases. The data also have an 

important role in revisions of the Consumer Price Index. 

The Consumer Expenditure Survey consists of two data collection efforts, the Quarterly 

Interview Survey and the Diary Survey. Each has its own sample of respondents. In the Diary 

Survey, the respondents are asked to keep track of all their purchases, and the purchases of each 

person in their households, each day for two consecutive 1-week periods. The respondents 

record these purchases using paper-and-pencil diaries. The Diary Survey is primarily a means to 

collect information on small or frequent purchases, but it covers all expenses during the reporting 

periods. 

In the Quarterly Interview Survey, interviewers visit respondents every three months for 

a total of five interviews in a 15-month period. The same respondents provide data about the 

purchases of all household members. The Quarterly Interview Survey is designed to collect data 

about larger household expenditures, such as purchases of appliances and automobiles, and

recurrent expenses, such as utility payments. In the initial interview session, the interviewer 

collects information on demographic and family characteristics and on the inventory of major 

durable goods owned. In the fifth interview, the interviewers ask supplemental questions about 

changes in household assets. 

The Consumer Expenditure Survey had been administered at approximately 10-year 

intervals from the late nineteenth century to 1980. It has been a continuous survey since 1980. 

Current data collection methodology

 Diary Survey. Respondents in the diary survey first list all the members of their 

households. Then, the respondents use paper-and-pencil diary forms to record all purchases by 

all household members. The diaries have a pocket for the respondents to store receipts and other 

documentation. The diary form is available at http://www.bls.gov/cex/csx801p.pdf. 

 The instructions printed in the diary include this text: 

Fill out this diary for an entire week, writing down EVERYTHING you and the 

people on your list spend money on each day – the products you buy, the services 
2 

you use, the household expenses you have during the week – no matter how large 

or small they are.

We recommend that you record your expenses each day. Think about where you 

went and what you’ve done. 

 Talk to the people on your list every day to find out how they spent their money. 

Include payments by: cash, check, food stamps, credit/debit card, money order, 

WIC voucher, automatic withdrawal/payroll deduction, store charge card, grocery 

certificate.

Keep receipts and other records so that you will remember to record what you 

bought or paid for. Use the pocket at the back of the diary to store them. 

Some record types include: receipts, utility bills, pay stubs, bank statements, 

telephone bills, catalog/Internet order invoices, credit card statements. 

 The diary is arranged into four sections, corresponding to four categories of expenditures: 

• Food and drinks away from home 

• Food and drinks for home consumption 

• Clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories 

• All other products, services, and expenses 

The respondents must enter a description and the amount paid for each item purchased. 

They are also asked to enter several additional details. For example, for purchases in the 

category “food and drinks away from home,” the respondents must enter the price of any 

alcoholic beverages consumed as part of the meal; whether those beverages were “wine,” “beer,” 

or “other”; whether the meal was “breakfast,” “lunch,” “dinner,” or “snack/other”; whether the 

place of purchase was “fast food take-out delivery concession,” “full service places,” “vending 

machines or mobile vendors,” or “employer or school cafeteria.” Similarly, respondents must 

enter a number of details about purchases that fall into the other three categories. 

Respondents are also required to note any returns or exchanges. They must cross out the 

original purchase, enter any merchandise received in exchange, and if necessary adjust the price 

paid. 

Currently, the respondents are not asked to consider using technologies such as smart 

phones, personal computers, or email to help them remember their expenditures. Instead, the 

respondents must rely on their memories and any receipts or other documentation that they save. 

Quarterly Interview Survey. Field interviewers from the Census Bureau conduct faceto-face interviews for the Quarterly Interview Survey. Formerly, they read questions from a 
3 

booklet, and wrote the responses in that booklet. Since April, 2003, they collect the data via 

Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI). They read questions from a laptop screen, and 

type in the responses. This questionnaire is available at 

http://www.bls.gov/cex/capi/2010/cecapihome.htm. 

The CAPI instrument is programmed in Blaise, a Windows-based survey system 

developed by Statistics Netherlands and licensed by Westat in the United States. The web site 

for the Consumer Expenditure Survey points out that the CAPI method has many advantages 

over the paper booklets: 

... the length of the interview is lessened by the use of a computerized questionnaire. 

Furthermore, the complex structure of the questionnaire (i.e., changes in question order 

being dependent on the preceding response) is more easily managed by the CAPI system, 

thus reducing the burden on field representatives. Interviewers also have the ability to 

incorporate notes throughout the CAPI questionnaire, where they were previously limited 

to a few blank lines on the paper instrument. In terms of data processing, the use of CAPI 

generates great efficiency improvements by eliminating the need for keying information 

that was previously hand-written. The CAPI system also includes built-in range edits for 

several expenditure items allowing the field representative to verify reported amounts at 

the time of collection, rather than having data programs perform these edits postinterview. Finally, with the introduction of the CAPI instrument, several wording changes 

were implemented throughout the Interview Survey, both to streamline some of the more 

complex sections of the questionnaire and to modernize some of the language (for 

example, “Video tape recorder, video disc player, or video cassette recorder (VCR)” is 

now “VCR, DVD player, or laser disc player.” 

 

Potential measurement error

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has made the quality of the Consumer Expenditure Survey 

data a very high priority. However, the respondents in the Consumer Expenditure Survey are 

required to report detailed information and may easily omit or misstate some of their 

expenditures. These data quality problems are not necessarily the result of respondent laziness 

or disinterest. The methods of the Consumer Expenditure Survey may create opportunities for 

error.

 For example, respondents might encounter problems reporting online purchases. Often, 

the receipt in an online purchase is only an email message or an electronic document. 

Respondents might not be in the habit of printing out these receipts. Also, many payments are 

commonly handled automatically. For example, consumers can make loan payments, or 

payments for utilities, rent, or credit cards, by setting up their accounts to complete these 

transactions through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network. Because these fund 
4 

transfers are entirely automatic, some respondents may not remember to report them in the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

 Moreover, some transactions do not involve any receipt or other documentation. Many 

vendors do not provide a receipt unless they are specifically asked. Respondents who neglect to 

ask for a receipt and then forget the transaction may omit data from their diaries. Even 

respondents who assiduously collect documentation for every transaction may encounter 

problems with receipts that contain an inadequate description of the items purchased. If the 

respondents cannot remember the details of those transactions, they may report erroneous data. 

Respondents may also fail to remember unusual purchases. For example, respondents 

may fail to remember that an emergency home repair is a purchase that they are required to 

report on the survey. 

In sum, the current methods of the Consumer Expenditure Survey rely heavily upon the 

respondents’ ability to remember expenditures. Memory is fallible. The Bureau of Labor 

Statistics recently contracted with the National Academy of Sciences to explore methods to 

enhance data quality in the survey. Those methods might involve technologies such as financial 

software packages and mobile devices.

Purpose of this project

The statement of work for this project states:

Services are needed to assist the Consumer Expenditure Surveys Program in identifying 

available mobile data capture technologies and financial software packages, and 

determining their potential for use in a redesigned survey...The project includes market 

research to determine what mobile data capture technologies and financial software 

packages are available, an assessment of their potential usefulness for the collection of 

the type of data required for the Consumer Expenditure Surveys, and a report 

summarizing the findings with recommendations for further testing or adoption...The 

goals of this project are to (a) produce a comprehensive list of mobile data capture 

technologies and financial software applications, and (b) provide a summary of features, 

limitations, costs, and potential usefulness for collecting consumer expenditure data from 

respondents in a redesigned Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

If mobile technologies and financial software packages can be used to collect survey data 

effectively, then the quality of the data may become less dependent upon respondents’ recall 

accuracy. This project was intended to reveal the potential benefits and drawbacks of these 

technologies, and to identify the most promising innovations to consider. 
5 

Method for this project

Method

Working with Bureau of Labor Statistics, the research team carried out the following 

project tasks:

• Identifying the technologies that might be useful for data collection in the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey 

• Listing products in each technology category 

• Researching the capabilities and characteristics of each product

• Creating matrices showing the products, and their capabilities and characteristics

• Proposing solutions for the Consumer Expenditure Survey employing those products 

 Identifying the technologies. The technologies that were identified as relevant to the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey are as follows: 

• Financial software packages

• Smart phones and associated technologies including image capture, audio capture, texting 

and email

• Financial applications for smart phones 

• Barcode software for smart phones 

• Receipt scanners and optical character reader software

• Mobile carriers

• Mobile operating systems

• Laptops and tablet computers 

Listing products in each technology category. At the outset of the project, the research 

team was aware of many of the products available in each of those technology categories. The 

team learned of many additional products through Internet searches.

Researching the capabilities of the products. The research team could take advantage 

of several resources to learn about each product. For many products, the web site for the product 

contained detailed descriptions, manuals and extensive Frequently Asked Questions sections. 

The web sites for some other products, however, provided relatively scant information. 

 The web sites for some products offered forums or similar features for users to 

communicate with one another online. Often, representatives from the manufacturer also 

participated. For example, the financial software package Ace Money offers a Wikipedia-like 

resource for users to post information about this product. The financial software product Mint 

offers “Mint Forum” in which users can post observations or ideas about this product, or 
6 

comment on other users’ posts. These online discussions sometimes provided the information 

that the research team needed about the products. 

Review articles in online technical magazines were sometimes a useful source of 

information. 

 In a few cases, the research team could study the products directly. Various smart phones 

and laptop computers were readily available. Some financial software packages were free to 

download. However, the budget for this project did not permit the purchase of any products. 

Sometimes the research team emailed questions to a vendor via the “contact us” feature 

on the web site to obtain information about a product. 

This research was conducted in late 2010. The research team believes that the findings 

are accurate as of that time. However, the research team observed that the products in each 

category were rapidly evolving. For example, two well-known financial software packages were 

discontinued, and several new financial software packages went on the market, around the time 

this project began. The capabilities of the smart phones and mobile carriers available to 

consumers are also changing at an extraordinarily rapid rate. Readers of this report may

therefore encounter some outdated information about the available products. 

Creating matrices. The research team created a matrix for each product category. Each 

matrix shows the individual products in each category and the characteristics and capabilities of 

each of those products. The matrices were intended to provide a summary of the range of 

products currently available. These matrices are included as appendices in this report. 

 Proposing solutions. The research team proposed data collection techniques that might 

improve data quality in the Consumer Expenditure Survey by helping respondents record and 

recall details about their purchases. These techniques did not use the reviewed products “out of 

the box,” with no modification. For example, the research team did not find that any financial 

software package could be useful by itself as a data collection tool for the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. However, the team did find that specific capabilities of financial software packages 

might be useful. Those specific capabilities could be incorporated into software to be developed 

specifically for data collection in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

Final report

This report describes the capabilities of the individual products in each product category. 

It also describes how some of those capabilities may be relevant to data collection in a 

redesigned Consumer Expenditure Survey. For example, one of the reasons financial software 

packages were created is to help users adhere to a budget; however, that capability is not relevant 

to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Financial software packages also have the capability of 
7 

automatically acquiring data about credit card purchases; that capability could be very relevant to 

the Consumer Expenditure Survey. This report focuses on such product capabilities and how 

they have the potential to enhance data quality in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The report 

also covers potential drawbacks to any product, such as a high cost, or excessive respondent 

workload. 

 The methods of this project were not intended to lead to definitive conclusions about new 

solutions to use in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The project was designed to inform 

discussions about those solutions. 

Reviewed technologies

Financial software packages

 Two common types of financial software packages for personal computers and mobile 

devices are as follows:

• Software to help users track and attempt to limit their expenses in order to adhere to a 

budget 

• Software for managing household or business finances, keeping records, cutting checks, 

and handling other financial matters

A third type of financial software helps users record specific expenses such as business 

trip expenses that an employer will reimburse. That software is discussed below in the section 

on financial software for smart phones. 

Appendix A contains the matrix for financial software packages. The matrix indicates 

that a very large number of these software products are available. Currently, Mint is a very 

popular budgeting tool, and Quicken is a very popular financial management product. Both are 

products of Intuit. 

Approach. All the financial software packages listed in Appendix A that help users 

create and adhere to a budget take a similar approach. First, they ask the user to set monthly 

spending goals for each of a number of expense categories. For example, the user could specify 

a monthly maximum for expenses in the category “entertainment.” Then, the software helps the 

user to record all expenses, categorize those expenses, and compare actual monthly expenses in 

each category to the monthly budget targets.

Credit card, debit card, and checking account data. With one exception, all the 

financial software packages listed in Appendix A allow users to import records of credit and 

debit card accounts, checking accounts, and PayPal and similar accounts. There are two ways 
8 

that users can import records. Some of the financial software packages allow the users to select 

the name of a financial institution and enter the login name and password that they use to access 

financial data on that institution’s web site. The software then automatically downloads the 

user’s account data. The column titled “automatic data capture” in the matrix in Appendix A 

shows the products that offer this automatic download feature. These financial software 

packages typically download these data on a fixed schedule, such as every time the user logs in. 

Of course, for these downloads to occur, the financial institution’s web site has to permit 

them. Most financial institution’s web sites do permit them; for example, the user literature for 

Mint claims, “We connect to almost every U.S. banking financial institution with Internet 

banking capability, from checking to credit cards to retirement accounts and more–saving you 

hours of tedious data entry.” Mint and the other financial software packages that support 

automatic data file downloads use software architecture known as Representational State 

Transfer (REST) and a protocol known as OAuth. The web sites of the financial institutions 

must have compatible web services to interact with these financial software packages.

As an alternative, users can log into the web sites of their financial institutions 

themselves, without the intervention of the financial software, and download a file containing 

their account data. The file can be in a number of formats such as QFX (compatible with 

Quicken), QBO (compatible with the Intuit product QuickBooks), OFX (compatible with the 

discontinued product Microsoft Money), and CSV (comma separated values, compatible with 

many products such as Microsoft Excel). Users then import this downloaded file into the 

financial software package. Users never enter their usernames or passwords into the financial 

software package. This method avoids any concerns that users may have about the security of 

their usernames and passwords. However, it requires a bit more effort on the user’s part. 

The financial software package Buxfer has a unique feature called Firebux that works 

only with the Firefox browser. Users manually download a file with their financial data from 

their financial institutions while Firebux records all of the users’ keystrokes. After that, users 

simply click the Firebux icon to replay those keystrokes automatically and download the file 

again.

Register of expenditures. Financial software packages incorporate the downloaded data 

into a register of expenditures. These registers resemble checkbook registers. They show the 

date and the amount of the expense. For credit and debit card expenses and for ACH payments, 

they also show the payee. For expenses paid by check, they show the number of the check but 

they do not show the payee, because the identity of the payee does not appear in the downloaded 

data. The user must manually enter the payee into the register. 

 All of the financial software packages listed in Appendix A allow the user to customize 

the appearance of the expense register, to a varying degree. 
9 

 Categorization. Many financial software packages attempt to categorize expenses 

automatically when the payee is known. These products are indicated by checkmarks in the 

column titled “categorization” in the matrix in Appendix A. The accuracy of the categorization 

process is not perfect. The instructions for the products admit that the user must review the 

categorization and correct errors. For example, the software may always categorize expenses as 

“restaurants” when the payee is “McDonald’s” or other restaurant chain. It may always 

categorize expenses as “clothing” when the payee is “Old Navy.” However, the software may 

not be able to correctly categorize purchases from less well-known vendors. Also, the software 

can make mistakes; in one online discussion, someone complained that his payment to 

“McDonald Mortgage” was automatically categorized as “restaurants.”

The financial software packages Thrive and BankTree Personal are programmed to 

“learn” how to categorize expenses. Once a user puts an expense from a vendor into a particular 

category, the user can have the software automatically put all subsequent expenses from that 

vendor into that category. 

Buxfer, a financial software package, allows users to “teach” the software how to 

categorize certain expenses. For example, users cans set the rule for the system to always 

categorize expenses whose payee names include the word “pizza” as “restaurants.”

Manual entry of expenses. Most of the financial software packages allow users to enter 

expenses into the register manually. In the matrix in Appendix A, the checkmarks in the column 

titled “cash expenditures” indicate which products have this feature. Users employ this feature 

to enter expenses that were paid for in cash, rather than check or credit or debit card, and which 

therefore do not appear in the downloaded data. This feature is especially important for users 

who do not have credit cards or checking accounts. 

Transaction reconciliation. With some financial software packages, the user enters all 

expenses into the register as those expenses are incurred. Later, when the user imports data from 

banks, credit cards, PayPal, and so on, the software reconciles those data with the expenses that 

the user had already entered manually. For example, the user might enter the amount, vendor, 

and date of an expense. When that expense subsequently appears in credit card data, the 

software would match the credit card charge with the manually-entered expense. The user would 

verify that the two were the same. The “transaction reconciliation” matrix column in Appendix 

A indicates which products have this feature.

Expense splitting. Most financial software packages allow the user to split an expense 

into its component expenses, which the user can then categorize. For example, credit card data 

might include a charge to a retailer like Target or Wal-Mart. That single charge might include 

multiple purchases of clothing, food, and books. The user would split that expense into the 

individual items purchased, and put each of those items into the appropriate categories. The 

“splitting” column in the matrix in Appendix A indicates which products have this feature. 
10

 Notations. With some products, the user can create multiple-choice tags as an additional 

method for categorizing expenses. For example, the tag choices might be “personal” and 

“business.” 

None of the products reviewed for this project allows the user to create a set of tags for

use with one expense category but not the other expense categories. For example, a user cannot 

create tags such as “winter clothes” and “summer clothes” and apply those tags only to the 

“clothing” category. Once a user creates tags, those tags are available for use with expenses in 

all categories.

Buxfer allows users to attach an image of a receipt to an expense.

Most products allow users to type in text to describe an expense. The expense register 

contains a field in which the user can enter notes, such as, “This is the sort of purchase that I can 

eliminate to keep to the budget.”

Returns and exchanges. The expense registers in financial software packages can 

include returns and exchanges. For example, if a user returned a purchase from a particular

vendor for a refund, the user might manually enter that information in the register. If the refund 

is credited to a charge card account, the credit would appear in the data for that account when 

those data were downloaded later. 

Users can categorize returns using the same category scheme that they use to categorize 

expenses. Exchanges are treated as a return of the merchandise that had been purchased, plus a 

new expense, for the merchandise obtained in the exchange. 

 However, none of the financial software packages reviewed for the project allowed the 

user to associate a return or an exchange with a particular purchase. For example, the expense 

register might show that merchandise was returned to particular vendor for a refund of a 

particular amount, but the register would not show which specific purchase listed earlier on the 

register was the for the merchandise that was returned.

 Calendars. Almost all of the financial software packages include a calendar, which 

appears on the computer screen either like a wall calendar, with each row showing a week from 

Sunday to Saturday, or a desk calendar, with each row representing one day. Checkmarks in the 

column titled “calendar” in the matrix in Appendix A indicate which products have this feature. 

These calendars allow users to post and view upcoming bills. The calendars also show when 

bills are past due.

 An important function of the calendars is to help users manage recurrent expenses such as 

rent, loans, and utilities. They also help users remember the due dates for unusual expenses such 

as down payments on a major purchase. In this way, the calendar serves as an electronic 

reminder system.
11

 Data export. Users can export the expense register in a number of formats, depending 

on the individual financial software package. Some, such as Mint, export only in CSV format. 

Others can also export the data in HTML, TXT, QIF, and OFX format. The matrix in Appendix 

A shows the capabilities of the various products in the column titled “data export.” 

SDK. Four of the financial software packages reviewed for this project have software 

developer kits (SDKs) or application programming interfaces (APIs). An SDK is a set of tools 

that software developers can use to create new applications. For example, a video game console 

might come with an SDK that developers might use to create new video games that are 

compatible with that console.

An API is a set of standards that a developer follows to call procedures. For example, 

Google offers an API that software developers use to call procedures for creating graphs from 

existing data.

The financial software package Buxfer comes with an API that allows developers to 

customize the way that Buxfer handles financial information. The API includes standards for 

creating commands for manually adding a transaction, uploading data from a financial 

institution, displaying a list of transactions 25 at a time, displaying a list of accounts with 

balances, displaying a list of loans, displaying a list of bill reminders, and so on. Developers can 

include these commands in applications that they created in the programming languages Ruby, 

Python, PHP, or Perl. 

Moneydance also has an API. Developers can write Python code that adds new 

functionality to Moneydance. The API allows developers to embed calls to Moneydance 

services within that code. The API includes calls that display the user’s bill reminders, or 

categorize transactions, and so on. 

Rudder also came with an SDK which is not of any use. Rudder is no longer available. 

The financial software package Yodlee MoneyCenter has an SDK that has spawned many 

software products. Some are themselves financial software packages, including Mint. Some are 

widgets that add new capabilities to the web sites of financial institutions. The Yodlee SDK has 

three parts:

• A development platform based on Adobe Flex, an open source framework for creating 

web pages. Adobe Flex is often used to create ecommerce web sites

• A framework for authenticating requests to access data on the web sites of financial 

institutions, using the OAuth protocol 

• A set of APIs for accessing Yodlee procedures

The APIs enable developers to create applications that have a great deal of functionality, 

such as the following: 
12

• Download and display data from bank, investment, and other financial accounts 

• Add or edit accounts manually, without downloading them 

• Add or edit transactions manually 

• Display bill reminders

• Create a budget

• Search for transactions

• Categorize transactions

 Platforms. All of the reviewed financial software packages for keeping a budget run on 

personal computers. All also have applications that run on smart phones. In other words, users 

can or enter, manage, or view their financial data on either platform.

Products such as Quicken for managing household or business finances run on personal 

computers but also have applications for mobile devices. 

Some applications run on mobile devices without a counterpart that is primarily for 

personal computers. Those products are covered below in a separate section of this report on 

financial products for smart phones. 

Multiple users. With all of the reviewed products, users must enter a password to gain 

access to their data. The products allow multiple users to share a password. In this way, if many 

people in a household were all attempting to adhere to a common budget, they could enter and 

view their expenses on a single expense register.

Buxfer has a unique feature to support roommates who make common purchases but 

maintain separate budgets. A purchase of a $20 item, for example, can be allocated as $10 paid 

by one roommate, $6 paid by a second roommate, and $4 paid by a third roommate. A single 

purchase can be divided among expense registers.

Unusual features. A large number of financial software packages are currently 

available. Twenty were reviewed for this project, but many more exist. These products are 

constantly adding new features as they compete for new users. Some, like Rudder and Wasabe, 

once had many users but were discontinued. 

 Some products have taken steps to distinguish themselves from the competition. For 

example, Bundle, developed collaboratively by Microsoft, Morningstar and Citigroup, has a 

social media component. When users create a budget for themselves, they can review data about 

how others who live near them spend their money. 

Buxfer takes advantage of the fact that many of its users like to text and use email. It 

allows users to manually add purchases into the expense register by texting or emailing the 

relevant information. The system automatically updates the user’s expense register.
13

 The Expense Tracker has a unique feature employing speech recognition. Users can 

telephone a speech recognition system, and then say the amount and category of an expense. 

The system then automatically enters the data into the user’s expense register. Users also have 

the option of texting this information or entering it online. 

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The primary purpose of the 

reviewed products is to help users avoid overspending, or to provide a means for users to keep 

financial records for a business or household. Their primary purpose is not to collect data. 

However, the various products contain a number of features that could be very useful for data 

collection in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Looking across all of the products reviewed, 

many features could be useful.

These software packages always have a transaction register that displays all purchases 

and their amounts. These registers are exactly what the Consumer Expenditure Survey requires, 

so long as they include the particular data needed in the survey. 

Financial software packages allow users to download data from their financial 

institutions. This feature can capture data from checking, savings, and credit card accounts, 

PayPal accounts, investment accounts, and so on. These data could cover all purchases except 

those made by cash, money order, cashier’s check, WIC vouchers, food stamps, and gift or 

rebate cards. The web sites of virtually all financial institutions support automatic downloads. 

Users who do not wish to enter their passwords into the software package, and users whose 

financial institutions do not permit automatic downloads, can download the data manually. 

 Most financial software packages also allow users to enter transactions manually into the 

transaction register. This feature allows users to log cash expenses and other expenses that might 

not be in the data downloaded from financial institutions. 

 Financial software packages allow users to split expenses. The Consumer Expenditure 

Survey focuses on individual purchases, not overall charges. For example, credit card data may 

show that a user made a $25 purchase at Wal-Mart, without showing that the purchase included a 

$5 food item, $4 book, and $16 piece of clothing. It is these individual purchases that the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey must capture. The user would need to split the expense in the 

transaction register to record those data for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

Financial software packages allow users to categorize expenses. All the financial 

software packages allow users to place expenditures into a category such as “clothing” or 

“entertainment.” With varying degrees of flexibility, the software packages allow users to create 

new categories, delete unneeded categories, and split categories into sub-categories. The 

Consumer Expenditure Survey currently asks users to categorize expenses; there are only four 

categories.
14

The various financial software packages take different approaches to categorize expenses. 

Some have an engine that automatically categorizes expenses. However, the instructions for 

these products admit that the accuracy is not perfect. Some allow users to set rules for 

categorization. Perhaps the most straightforward approach for the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey is to ask respondents to manually categorize each expense, rather than use any of these 

automatic features which potentially could introduce errors if users did not check all 

categorizations adequately.

Many financial software packages have calendars. Users enter recurring expenses such 

as rent in these calendars. However, the users need to remember the expenses in order to enter 

them in the calendar. Calendars do not by themselves help users to remember the expenses. For 

that reason calendars may have limited applicability to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

With all the financial software packages, multiple users can enter data onto a single 

expense register. For example, all the members of a single household might share a single 

password, and enter all their expenses onto the register. This feature may be useful for the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, which captures data for all the individuals in a household. 

Four of the reviewed financial software packages offer a means for software developers 

to create new applications. These SDKs or APIs could permit a developer to create an 

application specifically for data collection in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The application 

would not include features, such as budgeting tools, that are crucial to the financial software 

package but unnecessary and distracting for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The application 

would include just those features, such as financial data downloads, that are needed for the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

In particular, developers have used the Yodlee SDK to create many new applications. 

According to the Yodlee web site, the SDK is used for hundreds of applications, which appear on 

the web sites of many major financial institutions. This SDK might be very useful to developers 

creating a data capture application for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Further research is 

needed to determine the extent to which the Yodlee SDK is suitable for that role. 

 

Mobile carriers

Several mobile carriers offer reliable service in the United States. The smart phones 

reviewed in this project operate on AT&T, Verizon, SprintNextel, or T-Mobile. Appendix B 

contains the matrix for these mobile carriers.

Capabilities and speed. Each carrier uses one of several available mobile technologies 

for their network infrastructure. Mobile devices sold by a particular carrier operate on that 
15

carrier’s network and may not be able to operate on other carrier networks. It can never be 

assumed that a particular device can be used across all networks. 

For example, AT&T and T-Mobile use the Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology 

standard. Mobile devices purchased through AT&T do not operate on the Verizon and Sprint 

networks which use a different standard, called Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 

technology. 

For data services such as email and web browsing, carriers have deployed a third 

generation (3G) network infrastructure that is fast enough for most uses. However, users might 

judge uploading and downloading very large files to be slow. Most carriers have a 4G next 

generation data network plan to provide even higher speeds in the near future. 

Another important consideration is the coverage areas of the various carriers. Appendix 

B provides links to official coverage maps for each carrier. Coverage areas are also displayed in 

web sites such as http://www.cellreception.com/towers/towers.php, which shows actual cell 

tower locations.

Price. Mobile carriers set the price for their service in a very competitive environment 

and often bundle their service pricing with devices. Mobile providers typically sell smart phones 

at a low price but the subscriber must commit to a multiyear contract for both voice and data 

services with a penalty payment for early termination. The contract may call for additional 

roaming charges when the device is used outside the coverage area Sample service plans are 

include in Appendix B. 

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. If respondents in the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey were to use smart phones to send data, they would need to have a WiFi 

connection available or to reside in areas covered by carrier networks. Coverage is currently 

extremely wide, but not universal. The Consumer Expenditure Survey samples may include 

some respondents in remote areas with limited coverage, and who are not often in WiFi “hot 

spots.”

An obvious but important consideration is that network carrier subscriptions cost money. 

Their use in a redesigned Consumer Expenditure Survey will require adequate funding. 

Mobile operating systems

Each smart phone uses an operating system that is responsible for managing resources 

and applications. These operating systems are not interchangeable. They help determine the 
16

look and feel and the capabilities of the mobile devices that run them. An application developed 

for one operating system will not run on a different operating system. Operating systems for 

mobile devices are evolving quite rapidly. 

Appendix C contains the matrix for smart phone operating systems. They are discussed 

here individually. 

Mobile operating system market share at the time of this writing can be found at this link: 

http://www.readwriteweb.com/mobile/assets_c/2011/02/global-os-marketshare-feb.2011-

o-27904.php

This section of this report presents mobile operating systems in the order of current market share. 

Apple iOS. Apple iOS is a proprietary operating system used exclusively on Apple 

devices including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. Apple owns this operating system 

and manages its development and release. There is a large community of developers building 

applications for the Apple iOS operating system. Apple exercises control over the software 

applications that can run on Apple devices by allowing or failing to allow any application to be 

available through Apple’s App Store. Developers must obtain authorization from Apple to 

distribute their applications through the App Store. This requirement is unique to Apple iOS. 

Users run the risk of voiding their device warranty if they run applications that are not authorized 

by Apple. However, Apple continues to take steps in order to encourage developers to create 

new applications for Apple mobile devices. Examples include Apple’s providing an SDK to 

developers, along with tutorials and active support for a quickly growing development 

community. Additionally, Apple actively promotes developers’ products in the App Store, an 

effective distribution outlet that helps developers market and profit from their work. 

Blackberry OS. Blackberry OS is a proprietary operating system developed and owned 

by Research in Motion (RIM). RIM offers an SDK for software developers but development 

communities for this operating system are not as large as the ones for iOS and Android. 

Android. Android is an operating system owned by Google. It is considered to be 

“open” because it is a collaborative product of Google and members of the Open Handset 

Alliance, who have made the operating system source code freely available. The operating 

system is feature rich and is available for use by smart phone manufacturers at no cost. As a 

result, Android is the operating system for smart phones from many manufacturers, including 

Samsung, LG, HTC, and Motorola. Google has an App Store where applications for Android 

devices can be purchased and downloaded. However, other outlets also exist for users to 

purchase and download Android compatible applications. Neither Google nor any other group 

exercises control over the available applications. There is a large community of developers 

building applications for this operating system.
17

webOS. webOS is a proprietary operating system used for the Palm Pre. Prior to 

webOS, Palm OS was the operating system for Palm mobile devices. In 2010, HP acquired Palm 

and announced a new version of the operating system named webOS 2.0. Currently, new

devices are not available in the United States using webOS 2.0. Palm Pre is losing market share 

and is not as popular as Palm devices had been in earlier years. HP intends to release new 

devices, including tablets that use webOS 2.0. 

Microsoft Windows Mobile. Windows Mobile is an operating system that Microsoft 

developed for mobile devices. It was initially introduced for use on Pocket PC devices and was 

once known as Windows CE (Compact Edition). Over the last few years, Microsoft has lost 

significant share of the smart phone operating system market and has phased out Windows 

Mobile. Microsoft recently announced a new operating system for mobile devices known as 

Windows Phone 7. 

Target markets. Apple initially targeted the consumer market with its iPhone, but more 

recently the device has acquired enhanced email capabilities that were once unique to the RIM 

Blackberry. As a result, the iPhone has also entered the enterprise market. Apple’s iPad, a tablet, 

is beginning to penetrate the enterprise environment as well, as a light weight computer device. 

Devices that use the Android operating system have typically targeted the consumer 

market. However, because of Android’s open development environment, enterprise applications 

are beginning to appear. A number of device manufacturers already have developed or plan to 

develop tablet devices that use this operating system. These manufacturers will likely target both 

the consumer and enterprise markets.

Palm has historically focused on the enterprise market. While the HP strategy is still 

unclear, recently they released information regarding two tablet devices that will run the webOS 

operating system. The devices appear to target both the consumer and enterprise markets. HP’s 

plans and strategy should become clearer later in 2011. 

RIM has targeted the Blackberry toward the enterprise market and until recently 

dominated that market because of Blackberry’s email capabilities. Now, devices for the 

consumer market from other manufacturers have become so rich in features, including email, 

that they have become widely accepted in the enterprise market as well. RIM’s market position 

is eroding as a result. Recently RIM has attempted to improve the Blackberry’s web browsing 

capabilities.

 Windows Mobile was initially Windows CE for devices such as Pocket PC (HP iPaq). 

Failing to win sufficient market share, Microsoft retired Windows Mobile and released Windows 

Phone. With Windows Phone, Microsoft appears to be adopting the strategy of Apple and 

Android to target the consumer market by encouraging developer communities to create a large 

number of applications, and then targeting the enterprise market. With Apple and Android 
18

having made significant inroads in these markets it may take some time to see how Microsoft 

ultimately pursues this strategy.

 Multitasking. Multitasking refers to the ability of a smart phone to run more than one 

application simultaneously, so that a user can switch from one to the other quickly and easily. 

For example, a smart phone needs a multitasking capability to run a web browser and barcode 

scanner software simultaneously. With multitasking, the user can stop using the Internet and 

start scanning a barcode instantaneously. Currently, all operating systems for smart phones 

support multitasking. 

 Applications available. A large number of applications are readily available for the iOS 

and the Android operating systems. Robust developer communities create applications for these 

two platforms. The number and the variety of available applications for the other operating 

systems are not as impressive.

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. If non-web browser based smart 

phone applications were developed for the Consumer Expenditure Survey, separate versions 

would need to be developed if the application were to run on different operating systems. 

Smart phones

The research team reviewed the following smart phones for this project: the Apple 

iPhone 4, the Motorola Droid X, the HTC EVO 4G, and the RIM Blackberry Torch 9800. These 

smart phones represent a cross section of mobile device manufacturers, and include devices that 

run the range of popular device operating systems. 

The matrix for these smart phone devices is in Appendix D. 

 Keyboard. Many smart phone devices have some form of keyboard. Some use touch 

screen “virtual” keyboards while others have small, physical keyboards. There are advantages 

and disadvantages to both. Some users simply dislike touch screen keyboards. They prefer the 

sense of pushing a physical key, and find that a physical keyboard enables them to type 

accurately and avoid “fat finger” errors. Additionally, most touch screen keyboards employ 

capacitive technology, so users cannot use the keyboard if they are wearing gloves or using a 

stylus made of a non-conducting material.

All the devices evaluated in this project have a touch screen keyboard. The RIM 

Blackberry Torch 9800 also has a slide out physical keyboard. Smart phones usually have auto 

type or auto complete features that can reduce the number of keystrokes for many words. Some 

products, like the Android devices, have Swype or similar technology that allows users to enter a 

word by sliding their fingers from one letter to the next on the touch screen keyboard. 
19

Foldout or rollout full QWERTY keyboards are available as an option for some smart 

phones. Examples include Menotek’s rollout keyboard and iGo stowaway keyboard. These 

keyboards use Bluetooth wireless connections to connect to the mobile device. While Bluetooth 

drivers appear to be available for the iPhone and RIM device, Bluetooth drivers to connect 

keyboards to the smart phone are not as readily available currently for Android devices. 

Image Capture. Devices such as the iPhone allow users to take photographs relatively 

quickly and easily. The user selects the camera icon from among the screen icons. The camera 

application then quickly becomes active so that the user can simply click a button to take a 

photograph. This process can take as little as 5 seconds. The user can immediately email the 

photo or send it via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). 

Audio Capture. All the smart phones reviewed in this project can record and playback 

audio. The audio clips are stored in files with standardized formats. All the smart phones allow 

users to save and to transmit these audio files by email or MMS. 

The iPhone provides an application called Voice Memos. Users press a “record” button 

to begin recording an audio file, and a “stop” button to end the recording. The application 

displays a list of all the recorded audio files stored on the smart phone, with the date and time 

that the files were made, and the length of the recordings. 

Texting and Email. Texting capabilities are ubiquitous across mobile devices, including 

not only smart phones but also ordinary cell phones, which lack keyboards. Texting is especially 

popular among young smart phone users. 

Email is available on all smart phones. Virtually all smart phone subscribers use their 

devices for email.

Some mobile network carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and SprintNextel, may charge 

separately for texting and email. Often the way that carriers charge for these services depends 

upon the subscriber’s rate plan. With some rate plans, the charges are based upon amount of 

data or the number of texts messages that the subscriber has sent and received. 

Physical Characteristics. Smart phones are now small and light enough to easily fit into 

a pocket, a purse or be worn on a belt clip. Most smart phones are larger and heavier than most 

ordinary cell phones. The smart phones considered in this project have a form factor of 

approximately 4.5 inches in height, 2.5 inches in width and .5 inches in thickness, and a weight 

of 5 to 6 ounces. For those who are already accustomed to carrying smart phones, these sizes 

and weight characteristics may be reasonable. For others, smart phones may be uncomfortable to 

carry.

Built in GPS. All the smart phone devices included in this review include embedded 

GPS devices. GPS allows users to map their location, and can work in conjunction with products 
20

like Google Maps. Importantly, GPS usually provides more accurate location data outdoors, as 

compared with indoors.

Carrier Availability. In the United States, smart phones are typically purchased through 

mobile network operators. Subscribers typically purchase the smart phone when they establish 

new service, when a contract is renewed, or when the user decides to upgrade. Mobile carriers 

often attempt to lure customers to their network by being the only one to offer specific, full 

featured devices. These exclusive arrangements apply to many of the devices that were reviewed 

in this project, including the Apple iPhone 4 only available through AT&T, the Motorola DroidX 

only available through Verizon, the HTC Evo 4G available only through Sprint, and the RIM 

Blackberry Torch 9800 only available through AT&T. This marketplace is changing rapidly. 

For instance, it was recently announced that iPhones would soon be available through Verizon in 

addition to AT&T. 

Battery life. The smart phones reviewed in this project have many hours of availability 

when they are used intermittently. The devices conserve power by going into standby mode after 

a period of non-use. Even when being used continuously, specifications for the devices indicate 

that battery life ranges from 5.5 hours to 14 hours depending upon the device and the type of use. 

In this way, even smart phones that are used intensively need to be recharged only about once 

per day. 

 Cost. Smart phones cost approximately $200, with the exception of the RIM Blackberry 

Torch 9800 which costs $99. These prices, however, are dependent upon the subscriber signing 

a 2-year service contract. The price charged reflects the business model of the mobile carriers: 

They offer the smart phone at an attractive price and recoup the cost through the 2-year contract. 

Westat’s experience. Westat used mobile handheld device technologies in the National 

Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). Field data collection staff for NOPUS used mobile 

handheld devices—known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) at the time—to collect 

information about the drivers and passengers of vehicles waiting at stop lights. The data 

collectors recorded the use and non-use of seat belts and child safety seats. The data collection 

staff could move rapidly alongside the vehicles because the PDAs were small and lightweight. 

The PDAs were not telephones. However, they did collect GPS information to track the location 

of each data collection point.

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Smart phones have a range of 

characteristics that may benefit the Consumer Expenditure Survey. First, they are relatively 

widely used, so a large proportion of the respondents and members of their households may 

already be comfortable using them. Second, thousands of applications are available for the 

various smart phone models. Many SDKs and other resources are available to developers who 

wish to create new applications.
21

A smart phone could administer a questionnaire to respondents in the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey. Whenever respondents made a purchase, they could start up an application 

that administered a set of questions about the purchase. Those questions could include branching 

logic, so that the respondents answered only the appropriate questions. For example, questions 

about whether an expenditure should be categorized as “breakfast,” “lunch,” “dinner,” or “other” 

would appear only when the respondent indicated that the purchase was for food away from 

home. 

The image capture capabilities of smart phones could be very relevant to the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey. A later section of this report reviews software that allows users to 

photograph receipts. OCR software then attempts to extract data about the purchase documented 

on the receipts. 

In addition, respondents might take a photograph at the moment of a purchase. That 

photograph might simply be of the place of the purchase, or of the items purchased. That 

photograph by itself would contain very little useful information for the survey. However, it 

could serve to jog the memory of the respondent, ensuring that the respondent did not completely 

forget about the purchase. The respondent could then provide the information about the 

purchase required by the survey. 

Respondents could also use the audio recording feature of smart phones. They could 

record a voice file containing information about a purchase right at the moment it occurs, before 

the respondents have had a chance to forget any details.

The GPS capability of smart phones could also be useful. It could show respondents their 

approximate whereabouts when they took the photograph, or completed the questionnaire, or 

made the audio recording. That information could help ensure that respondents remembered the 

purchase accurately.

The texting and email capabilities of smart phones could also play a role in the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey. First, respondents could text or email information about their purchases as 

a way of recording them. Some financial software packages, reviewed earlier, use this 

capability. Those packages, such as Buxfer, require the user to adhere to a strict format to 

document the purchase, its category, and its price. If an inattentive user deviates from that 

format, the software cannot understand the content of the text or email. For this reason, any such 

system for the Consumer Expenditure Survey would have to accept text or email in any format. 

Also, smart phones could be programmed to automatically email the data that 

respondents enter. For example, soon after a respondent photographed a purchase or a receipt, or 

recorded an audio file, or responded to a questionnaire that the smart phone administered, those 

data could be emailed to a central data collection system. The data could be stamped with date 

and time, and GPS coordinates. 
22

After the photographs, audio files, and other data were collected, respondents could be 

asked to report all the information about the purchase required by the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. Such a system is described later in this report. 

Of course, if smart phones were introduced into the methods of the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey, some problems might follow. First, many people are unaccustomed to 

using smart phones. People used to ordinary cell phones may find smart phones to be 

cumbersome. People who are uncomfortable with technology in general may dislike smart 

phones, be unable to learn how to use them, or simply refuse to use them. 

In addition, the introduction of smart phones potentially may bias the results of the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey. If respondents were allowed to choose between the paper diaries 

and smart phones, respondents with certain demographic characteristics would 

disproportionately select the paper diaries. If “mode effects” existed—that is, if the smart 

phones lived up to their potential of providing better quality data—then people with the 

demographic characteristics associated with choosing paper diaries would tend to have lower 

quality data.

On the other hand, mobile devices have been used to collect data in clinical trials of 

experimental new drugs with a much success. With electronic patient reported outcomes (ePRO) systems, patients in clinical trials use mobile devices to record side effects and other 

observations about their health. An e-PRO system can offer reminders to help ensure that 

patients remember their dosages. It can even administer questionnaires. Perhaps the experiences 

of clinical trials investigators who have used ePRO systems could help Consumer Expenditure 

Survey methodologists gain an understanding of how smart phone technologies might affect data 

collection.

Financial applications for smart phones

Several financial software packages for smart phones were reviewed for this project:

Shoeboxed mobile, Budgetdroid, MyBudget, iXpensit, EXGIS, Certify, ProOnGo. The matrix 

for these products is included in Appendix E. 

Some financial software packages for smart phones are intended to help users keep track 

of their expenses for business purposes. These products allow users to record their expenses, 

view company policies regarding expenses, and forward their expense reports to company 

officials for approval. These software packages are intended for business travelers and others 

who must make purchases out-of-pocket so that an employer can reimburse them later.

Other financial software packages for smart phones are designed to help users limit their 

expenses in order to adhere to a budget. These software packages are very similar in function to 
23

their counterparts that run on personal computers as well as smart phones, reviewed earlier in 

this report. 

Devices supported. No mobile financial software package can operate on all mobile 

devices because no package has versions for all mobile operating systems. Of the applications 

reviewed for this project, only two, Certify and ProOnGo, operate on more than one operating 

system. Those two products can operate on Blackberry, Windows Mobile, iPhone, and Android 

devices.

Options for entry of expense information. All the mobile financial applications allow 

the user to manually record an expense by typing in the related information onto a form visible 

on the device screen. With the Budgetdroid, Mybudget, IXpenseit and EXGIS, the only way a 

user can enter an expense is by typing in the information. 

Some applications also allow the user to photograph or scan a receipt for an expense. 

The image of the receipt is incorporated into the final expense report that the user forwards to a 

company official for approval. With some expense applications, such as Shoeboxed, Certify, 

and ProOnGo, once the receipt image is captured, it is transferred to a centralized service. OCR 

technology then converts the receipt image into text, which is used to populate expense report 

entries.

Data captured. None of the mobile financial software products that use OCR are 

capable of automatically recording every line of a receipt. All of the reviewed products are 

programmed to identify the receipt total amount, while ignoring the lines of the receipt that 

itemize the purchase.

Nearly all of the mobile financial software applications reviewed allow users to type in 

information about each expense in a field labeled “Notes,” “Description,” or “Reason.” 

ProOnGo appears to be the one exception that lacks this feature. ProOnGo has a receipt reader 

for automatically capturing expenses, but does not allow the user to type in any additional 

information about the expenses. ProOnGo users can, however, use a finger or stylus to add 

hand-written notes on the smart phone screen. 

Expense categorization. All of the mobile financial software packages reviewed allow 

users to categorize expenses using a standard set of categories. Some, but not all, allow users to 

define additional categories. IXpenseit allows users to define both categories and subcategories.

Shoeboxed Mobile allows the user to associate a vendor with a category. The application 

attempts to identify the vendor from the image of a receipt and to automatically categorize the 

associated expense.

Data export and integration with other tools. All of the mobile financial software 

packages reviewed allow the user to export the expense information in formats such as CSV. 
24

Some of the products use this export feature to provide integration capabilities with other 

products. For example, Shoeboxed integrates with Batchbook, FreshBooks and Outright, while 

ProOnGo integrates with QuickBooks. 

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. One aspect of financial applications 

for smart phones is potentially relevant to the Consumer Expenditure Survey: the ability to 

capture data from photographs of receipts. However, this capability must be viewed with some 

caution. All of the reviewed products that have this capability capture only the receipt total. 

They capture no data about the individual items that constitute the overall purchase. However, 

software developers may well be able to create an application that captures information from a 

receipt line by line, after OCR software has converted an image of the receipt into text. This 

possibility is covered later in the report. 

It may not be desirable to ask respondents in the Consumer Expenditure Survey to 

photograph their receipts. The instructions for the financial packages for smart phones 

emphasize that these photographs must be taken with care. They can be too blurry for OCR 

software if the user does not hold the smart phone still. The receipt must be correctly framed in 

the photograph so that the text on the receipt is as large as possible. It is unclear whether a long 

receipt can be reliably framed by a novice user. In sum, photographing receipts may or may not 

be feasible for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Testing with actual respondents is needed. 

The results of such testing might suggest that scanning is better than photographing for 

obtaining a high quality image for OCR scanning. However, scanning a receipt requires more 

time than photographing a receipt. 

Barcode reader software for smart phones

Software is available for many smart phones that allows the camera to serve as a barcode 

reader. The software then performs a lookup of the Universal Product Code (UPC) in a 

centralized database and returns product information, which may include price information for 

the product at various nearby locations. Of course, this software was not designed for data 

collection in surveys. It was designed for a very different purpose—to assist users for product 

price comparison shopping. 

Importantly, the barcode software can capture only the identity of the product bearing the 

barcode. It cannot capture the price, although the software may be able to look up the price 

available at various merchants, if those data were available in online price databases. In 

addition, barcode reader software products have very limited capabilities with barcodes that are 

used only within a specific store. Store-specific barcodes, which usually start with the code for a 

“2,” are used for individually weighed and labeled items such as purchases from the delicatessen 

or fish counter, and are meaningful only within the stores where the purchases occur.
25

Appendix F contains the matrix for the barcode software products reviewed in this 

project, including RedLaser, ShopSavvy, The Find, and Google Shopper. 

Other barcode readers are available that use laser barcode scanning rather than 

photography with smart phones. Laser barcode scanning products are used in many ways. For 

example, visually impaired persons use them to identify the contents of cans and bags in their 

homes. Warehousemen use them for tracking boxes. Shippers like FedEx use them to track the 

location of deliveries. They are used by shoppers in major grocery chains to record their 

purchases before going to the cashier. These standalone barcode readers were not reviewed for 

this project.

Availability. The barcode reader applications reviewed in this project run on currently 

popular smart phone operating systems. RedLaser is available for the iPhone; a future version 

will run on the Android operating system. ShopSavvy and The Find are available for both the 

iPhone and Android operating systems while Google Shopper is available only for the Android 

operating system.

Operation. The RedLaser application is available for download from the Apple App 

Store at no cost. The research team tested that application on an iPhone. 

The user clicks a button on the smart phone screen and aims the camera at the barcode on 

a product’s label. RedLaser displays a screen with a frame at the center showing the image being 

captured by the camera. When the barcode is aligned in this frame, the device automatically 

captures the UPC code and performs an online lookup for the product information and product 

pricing. 

RedLaser then displays the pricing information. The user can view a screen listing all 

previously-scanned products, or the user can view the most recently scanned product. The user 

can email the information for any of the scanned products. 

 RedLaser performed reliably and easily. The user needed 5 to 10 seconds to complete the 

process of scanning a barcode. At that speed, however, scanning just half a dozen items might 

require a full minute.

Scan History. Three of the products considered in this project, RedLaser, Shop Savvy 

and Google Shopper retain a history of products scanned. The Find appears not to keep such a 

list.

Capture of Additional information. Of the barcode reader products considered for this 

project, only Shop Savvy appears to allow the user to type in notes about an item whose barcode 

has been scanned. The user types in additional data in multiple fields. For example, Shop Savvy 

could permit a user to type in the price actually paid for an item, or the person who will use the 

item.
26

Email capabilities. All the barcode reader applications included in this study can export 

data about the items whose barcodes were scanned. Shop Savvy allows the user to export those 

data using Dropbox. Google Shopper uses Gmail. The Find integrates with social media 

products like Facebook. With RedLaser the data can be emailed. 

SDK Availability. Some of the reviewed barcode scanning products have an SDK that 

allows programmers to develop new applications that make use of the barcode scanning 

capability. Both RedLaser and ShopSavvy have an SDK. Right “out of the box,” RedLaser and 

ShopSavvy are useful for comparison shopping. The SDK of these products provide 

programmers with the ability to develop a new product that uses barcode scanning in a way that 

is useful for other purposes, such as for data collection. 

Cost. All the barcode scanning software products reviewed are available from their 

distributors as free downloads. However, using the products could engender a charge depending 

upon the subscriber rate plan. 

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Developers could use these 

products’ SDKs to create an application for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Respondents 

would click an icon on the smart phone screen, aim the camera, and photograph the barcode of 

the products that they purchased. The software could then look up the barcode in a database. 

This procedure, however, would only identify the product. It would capture no information 

about the actual sale price, or any other aspect of the purchase. In most cases, there is no way to 

query an online database to reliably capture the actual price.

Moreover, many purchased items have no barcodes. Some, such as purchases from a 

supermarket’s meat counter, have store-specific barcodes that cannot be looked up in any 

publicly available database.

Sometimes, when bar codes are printed on a wrinkled label or a curved surface, scanners 

cannot read them; they pose problems even for cashiers with years of experience. For these 

reasons, respondents may sometimes find barcode readers frustrating to use as a means for 

recording purchases.

Receipt scanners

For the purposes of this project, a receipt scanner is defined as any system that converts 

the content of a paper receipt into electronic form. Receipt scanners can employ either of two 

devices: a camera or an optical document scanner. Receipt scanners using smart phone 

photography were reviewed above in the section on financial software packages for smart 

phones. 
27

Several receipt scanners that use optical document scanners and OCR software were 

reviewed for this project. Detailed information can be found in the matrix in Appendix G. 

Optical document scanners come in several forms. Some are wands that the user slides 

over a receipt. Others are small, portable devices with a roller. The user feeds the receipt into 

the device, so that the roller can move the receipt over a set of optical sensors. Software then 

creates an electronic image of the paper receipt. Of course, a user could employ an ordinary 

desktop document scanner to capture an image of a receipt. Desktop document scanners, 

however, are not easily portable and their software is usually designed for personal computers, 

not smart phones. 

Once the receipt is scanned, the user has several options. The user could transmit the 

image by email or MMS. All of the reviewed receipt scanners come with OCR software, which 

could convert the image of the receipt into a text file, word processing file or a document in PDF 

format.

The portable scanners that were reviewed for this project are as follows: Xerox XTravel 

Scanner, Brother (formerly Pentax), DSmobile 600, NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner, Fujitsu 

ScanSnap 300. 

Capabilities and accuracy. All the reviewed receipt scanners support 600 dots per inch 

(DPI) resolution, a level that is easily sufficient for OCR software. There are other factors that 

affect the accuracy of OCR software, however, such the quality of the printing, the font type, and 

the font size on the original receipt. 

The Xerox XTravel and the Brother DSMobile are TWAIN compliant, meaning that they 

conform to a standard used to interface imaging hardware with imaging processing software. The 

NeatReceipts scanner and the Fujitsu ScanSnap appear not to be TWAIN compliant. It may be 

difficult to develop new software for integration with devices that are not TWAIN compliant.

All the scanners reviewed include software to export the electronic images as files in PDF 

format. The software for the NeatReceipt scanner supports many additional formats including 

Microsoft Excel and Word. See the Appendix G for more information about the supported 

formats. 

The NeatReceipts software is explicitly intended to convert the content on receipts into 

an expense report. The other scanners may work with electronic expense report systems, but 

they are not sold specifically as a component of any electronic expense report system.

The NeatReceipts software can capture only the total amount of the receipt. It cannot 

capture the individual items on the receipt. For example, the NeatReceipts software can capture 

the total amount of a supermarket purchase shown on a receipt, but it cannot capture the cost of 

the individual items that comprised that total purchase. In this way, the software operates like 
28

the software for smart phones that convert photographs of receipts into electronic format. That 

software was discussed above, in the section on financial software systems for smart phones. 

NeatReceipts is intended for users who have to keep a record of business expenses. It 

allows users to create expense categories, and to categorize each expense. It attempts to capture 

the identity of the vendor from the scanned receipts from the text or logo at the top of the receipt. 

Price. All the reviewed receipt scanners sold in the $110 to $300 price range. The 

research team noticed significant price differences among online retailers.

 Scanning versus photographing. ShoeBoxed, Certify and IXpenseit allow the user to 

photograph or to scan a receipt. The user is not required to use just one method to capture the 

image of the receipt.

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Receipts obviously contain a good 

deal of information relevant to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, including the date of a 

purchase, the individual items that constitute the purchase, and the price of each. Receipts for 

returns and exchanges also contain very relevant information for the survey.

The crucial issue is how to convert that information from text on a receipt into data in a 

database. Two methods are possible: smart phone photography and scanning. Two forms of 

scanning are possible, using desktop or mobile scanners. Only testing with actual respondents 

can reveal the optimum approach. Testing can reveal whether novice respondents can take an 

adequate photograph, even with very lengthy receipts. Taking a photograph of a receipt 

presumably always is much faster than scanning a receipt. Testing can reveal whether 

respondents quickly become dissatisfied using a scanner. 

Moreover, many people have little experience with either smart phone photography or 

with scanners. Only testing can reveal whether respondents can quickly learn the skills they 

need to use these methods. 

Laptop computers

As described earlier, field interviewers in the Quarterly Interview Survey collect data by 

reading questions from a laptop screen and typing in the responses, a method known as CAPI. 

There are several characteristics that make a laptop computer suitable for a CAPI study. 

The size and weight have to be within a range for the interviewers to carry them without 

difficulty from one household to the next. The battery has to be sufficient for the laptop to be 

functional for the full work day, even when the interviewers cannot find a location to recharge 

the device during the day. The CPU and memory must be suitable for the CAPI application. 
29

The devices reviewed for this study were the following: Toshiba Tecra A11 (S3540), HP 

ProBook 4520s, Fujitsu Lifebook E780, and Dell Latitude E5510. The matrix for these devices 

is in Appendix H. Detailed information including product options such as storage is included in 

that matrix.

Screen image quality. Each of the reviewed laptop computers have a 15.6 inch diagonal 

screen and provide anti-glare options, which are useful when the laptop is used outdoors or near 

a window. Several of the devices, including the Fujitsu Lifebook E780, offer display options like 

high-performance graphics cards and higher resolutions that are suitable for more sophisticated 

video and image rendering needs. 

Physical Dimensions. All the reviewed laptop computers were generally in the range of 

14.16 to 14.7 inches in width, 9.8 to 10 inches in height and 1.09 to 1.48 inches in thickness. 

The HP ProBook 4520s were the thinnest at 1.09 inches. These dimensions appear to be 

reasonable for a CAPI application while providing screens of ample size. 

Weight. The weight of a laptop varies based upon its configuration. A spare battery, for 

example, adds significant weight. The research team examined weight information provided on 

the manufacturers’ web sites for standard configurations. The reviewed laptop computers 

weighed between 5.26 to 6.1 pounds. The HP ProBook 4520s appears to be the lightest at 5.26 

pounds. 

Battery life. Battery life varied significantly among the reviewed laptop computers. The 

Fujitsu Lifebook E780 manufacturer’s specifications suggest that it has the longest battery life, at 

12 hours. A test reported for the Toshiba Tecra A11 (S3540) suggested that it has the shortest 

battery life, at 3 hours and 7 minutes. Many factors can affect the battery life, including the type 

of use, and the age of the battery. 

Manufacturer’s specifications for battery life are based on ideal conditions, not the 

conditions a field interviewer might encounter. For that reason, it may be desirable to compare 

laptop computers in actual use before committing to purchasing a particular model. Field 

interviewers might be wise to carry spare batteries.

Storage. Most laptop computers offer several options for storage capacity. The Toshiba 

Tecra A11 comes standard with 320GB. The HP ProBook 4520s has several options of 250, 

320, and 500 GB. The Fuji Lifebook E780 offers several options of different speeds (5400 rpm 

or 7200 rpm) and size options of 160, 320, and 500 GB. The Fuji also offers a 128GB solid state 

option. The Dell Latitude E5510 offers two sizes of 160 GB (5400RPM) and 320 G (7200 

RPM). 

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The field interviewers from the 

Census Bureau carry laptop computers to collect data in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. 
30

 At Westat, purchases of laptops for data collection occur after a great deal of pretesting 

with actual field staff. Westat evaluators have examined specialty laptops such as ruggedized 

and very small models. 

 

Tablet Devices

Recently a number of tablet devices have become quite popular. The iPad by Apple, for 

example, has been the subject of many news stories. These devices are relatively small and light, 

as compared to laptop computers. They nonetheless offer many of the functions found in laptop 

computers. In addition, they offer a longer battery life than laptop computers can provide, have a 

touch screen, and depending upon the specific product come with integrated technologies like 

GPS, camera, video recording, audio recording and web connectivity. 

These devices are quickly evolving. For this project, the research team reviewed these 

products: Apple iPad, HP Slate, Dell Streak (AKA Mini 5), and Lenovo U1. The matrix for 

these devices is in Appendix I. 

Operating system. The operating systems of tablet devices determine which 

applications the devices can run, and which capabilities they can provide. 

The iPad uses the Apple iOS operating system, which also runs on Apple’s iPhone, iPad 

and iPod Touch. As noted earlier, Apple manages the App Store that currently serves as the only 

authorized way of distributing software for Apple mobile devices.

HP has recently announced its new product, the HP Slate. This device appears very 

similar to the Apple iPad in many ways. One major difference is that the HP Slate uses the 

Windows 7 operating system, which may be an advantage because existing Windows 

applications should be able to operate on this device. In principle, the HP Slate offers the best of 

all worlds: a small device with long battery life that runs widely used and trusted Windows 

applications. Very importantly, very few Windows applications were designed for a tablet 

computer or a touch screen. By contrast, the applications for other tablet devices were designed 

specifically for the tablet platform and a touch screen. Some Windows application may seem 

awkward when they run on the HP Slate because they were not designed for that device. 

The Dell Streak uses the Android operating system. As noted in an earlier section on 

operating systems, Android is an open operating system with a large community of developers. 

The status of the Lenovo U1 continues to change. It was initially planned to operate in 

two modes: in tablet mode using the Android operating system and in a desktop mode using 

Windows 7. Lenovo has not provided any official plan updates regarding this device.
31

Storage. Slate devices do not appear to sacrifice storage for size. The iPad provides 

several size options, including 16, 32 and 64 gigabytes. The HP Slate specifications appear to be 

for 64 gigabytes while the Dell Streak offers 16 gigabytes. Storage information regarding 

Lenovo’s device is not yet released. 

Camera. With the exception of the first version of the iPad, each of the reviewed tablet 

devices includes a camera. The pixel resolution varies among the devices. The Lenovo is 

planned to include a camera with 1.3 megapixel resolution. The Dell Streak has two cameras, 

one facing out and one facing forward. The next version of the Apple iPad is rumored to include 

two cameras as well.

Wireless connectivity. Each of the reviewed slate devices includes built-in Wi-Fi

connectivity. Additionally, some include other wireless options. The Apple iPad offers an 

option for operation on the AT&T wireless network; this option requires purchasing the 3G 

version of the device and signing up for the AT&T data plan. The Dell Streak will operate on 

the T-Mobile network, requiring a subscription with T-Mobile. 

GPS. The iPad and Dell Streak both have GPS technology built into the device. The HP 

Slate does not have a GPS embedded within the device; however, should one be needed, a GPS 

device can be attached to the HP Slate via its USB port.

 To summarize the findings for GPS: All smart phones have GPS capabilities. The 

reviewed laptop computers require that a GPS device be added via the USB port. Tablets 

currently differ by manufacturer as to their GPS capability.

Multitasking. As noted earlier, multitasking enables the user to run several applications 

without needing to close one before starting to use the other. Multitasking is desirable because it 

saves the user from having to open and close applications when switching among them.

The most recent version the Apple iOS operating system, version 4.2, supports 

multitasking. Older versions did not. 

The HP Slate will run Microsoft Windows 7 which is a multitasking operating system. 

However, the CPU of the HP Slate may not be able to support multitasking as easily as laptop 

and desktop computers typically can. When running many programs simultaneously, the HP 

Slate might become unacceptably slow.

Applications. The breadth of applications available for tablet devices is tied directly to 

the device operating system.

In the case of the iPad, the development community is very strong. There are currently 

more than 300,000 applications available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store. 
32

The HP Slate uses Microsoft Windows 7 as its operating system, so many commonly 

used Microsoft applications should be able to operate on the device. However, most Windows 7 

applications were built for desktop or laptop computers, which almost always have processors 

more powerful than those of the HP Slate. The tablet may operate slowly when running very 

resource-demanding programs. 

HP has delayed shipping of HP Slate numerous times. Westat has ordered one for data 

collection trial purposes, the device due for delivery at the start of February is now scheduled to 

arrive in mid to late March.

The Dell Streak utilizes Android as its operating systems. As noted in the operating 

system section above, Android is an open operating system with a development community that 

continues to rapidly grow. 

Battery life. The battery life for tablet devices is longer than that of laptop computers. 

The reason is that the CPUs of tablet devices are designed for a lower level of power 

consumption. Also, the storage on a tablet device is typically solid state with no moving parts. 

Tablet devices also do not need a cooling fan which consumes significant power in laptop 

computers. Also, the electronic chips that are used in tablet devices have relatively low power 

consumption. 

The manufacturer’s claims regarding battery life are included in Appendix I, but two 

examples can be provided here to provide a general picture of the range: The iPad is rated at 10 

hours for video, 140 hours for audio, 1 month in standby mode. The Lenovo U1 was reported to 

be planned for 5 hours browsing time and 60 hours of standby. 

Size and weight. Appendix I includes size and weight specifications for each device. 

The reviewed devices range from 6 inches to 9.5 inches in height, 3.1 inches to 7 inches in width 

and .39 inches to .58 inches in thickness. Tablets included in this study weigh between .48 and 

3.8 pounds. 

Relevance to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Conceivably, the CAPI interviewers 

for the Consumer Expenditure Survey could use tablets rather than laptops. The tablets are 

lighter. The interviewers could hold them in their hands, without having to find a table or other 

surface in the respondents’ homes. 

The CAPI questionnaire is programmed in Blaise, which runs in a Windows 

environment. The HP Slate will run Windows 7. Testing would be required to determine 

whether the HP Slate can deliver an adequate level of performance when running Blaise 

applications like the Consumer Expenditure Survey CAPI questionnaire. Westat plans to 

perform such testing when the HP Slate arrives.
33

In addition, respondents could use tablets in much the same way that they would use 

smart phones as a data collection tool in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Tablets and smart 

phones have many of the same capabilities. There are also some differences; for example, the 

initial version of the iPad does not have a camera. Tablets may be especially useful for 

respondents to respond to a brief set of questions about their purchases. Because tablets have 

relatively large screens, respondents may have little trouble reading and responding to questions. 

Of course, not all respondents will be comfortable with a tablet. Also, unless the 

respondent already owns one, they could be an expensive data collection alternative. 

Potential role of technology for data collection

The technologies reviewed in this project potentially could facilitate data collection in a 

redesigned Consumer Expenditure Survey. The technologies also potentially could reduce the 

extent to which the respondents rely on their memories to report data about their expenditures. 

This section summarizes how the reviewed technologies might be applied to collect data about 

expenditures of all kinds: 

• Purchases by check

• Purchases by credit or debit card

• Purchases by PayPal or similar service

• Automatic fund transfers 

• Purchases with receipts

• Purchases by cash with no receipts

• Purchases by money order or cashier’s check

• WIC voucher or food stamp purchases 

• Recurrent expenses or large, unusual expenses

• Purchases by gift and rebate cards

• Purchases of items labeled with barcodes 

• Online purchases 

• Returns and exchanges

This section of the report presents a potential data collection solution for a redesigned

Consumer Expenditure Survey in which respondents employ technologies such as smart phones 

and software that incorporates some of the capabilities of financial software packages. These 

technologies can help collect only a portion of the data required by the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. For that reason, this section also describes how a computer-administered questionnaire 

could supplement these technologies in a comprehensive data collection solution. 
34

Purchases by check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, or automatic fund transfer. 

When a respondent makes a purchase by check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, or automatic fund 

transfer, a record of that purchase appears in a data file that is almost always accessible online.

For check purchases, the record appears in the data file for the checking account after the 

check is cashed. The record contains the check number and the dollar amount. 

For credit card purchases, the record appears in the data file for the credit card account. 

The record contains the date of the transaction, the payee, and the dollar amount. 

For debit card purchases, the record appears in the data file for the relevant account at the 

bank, credit union, or other financial institution. The records are similar to those of credit card 

accounts.

For PayPal and similar accounts, the record appears in the transaction history file. The 

record contains the date, payee, and amount. 

For ACH fund transfers, the record appears in the data file for the relevant account at the 

bank, credit union, or other financial institution. Automatic fund transfers can also occur from a 

PayPal account. The date, payee, and dollar amount would appear in the relevant data file. 

There are several ways that respondents in the Consumer Expenditure Survey could 

access the data files for their accounts at banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions, or at 

PayPal and similar services. Respondents could simply log into the relevant financial web site 

and download the account data file. The file might be in QFX, QBO, OFX, or CSV format. 

PayPal files are only in CSV format, but many banks allow the user to select among several 

offered formats.

The financial software package Buxfer contained a feature called Firebux that 

automatically recorded the user’s keystrokes as the user accessed an account file from a financial 

web site. Respondents could then click the Firebux icon to download the data file automatically. 

Firebux works only with the Firefox browser. 

Respondents could also download their account files using some of the reviewed 

financial software packages. For example, the Mint software package allows respondents to 

select their financial institutions from a dropdown list. The respondents also enter the usernames 

and passwords that they use to access their account data for those financial institutions. Mint 

then automatically downloads the account data files and incorporates the data into a transaction 

register.

Mint was developed using the Yodlee SDK. The Mint software calls procedures in the 

Yodlee SDK to download account files. This ability to download account files from many 

financial institutions, PayPal and other financial services, and to assemble the data in a single 

transaction register is called “account aggregation.” 
35

Of course, it is possible to distribute Mint or other financial software package “out of the 

box” to respondents in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. However, the primary purpose of 

Mint and other financial software packages is to help users create and adhere to a budget, not to 

help users report expenditure data in the detail needed by the Consumer Expenditure Survey. 

Respondents would have to ignore the principal purpose of the software and focus solely on the 

account aggregation feature. Since so much of the user experience focuses on budgeting and 

avoiding overspending, respondents might find this software distracting. They might not be able 

to comfortably disregard all aspects of the software other than account aggregation. In short, the 

design of financial software packages does not meet the needs of the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. 

However, software developers could use the Yodlee SDK, or one of the other SDKs or 

APIs mentioned above in the section for financial software packages, to develop an application 

specifically for data collection in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. This application could give 

respondents a choice: they could select their financial institutions, and enter their usernames and 

passwords, so that the application automatically downloaded the account files on a regular 

schedule such as daily. Or, respondents who did not want to divulge their passwords this way 

could manually download their account files from the financial web sites and then import these 

files into the application. 

The data files contain some but not all of the data required by the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. For example, the data from a credit card file might show the total purchase at a 

supermarket but provide no information about the individual items purchased there. As 

described later, the respondents would have to provide the additional needed data.

Recurrent or large, unusual expenses. When respondents rely on their memory to 

report their expenses, they may well forget recurrent expenses. These expenses often are paid 

through ACH fund transfer from a bank or credit card account, so respondents might not think of 

them. Sometimes, they are paid by check but respondents may forget that expenses like rent or 

cable television fees must be reported in the Consumer Expenditure Survey. By downloading 

data files from their financial web sites, respondents might ensure that they do not forget 

recurrent expenditures, and have included the correct date and amount. 

Similarly, respondents might forget to report an unusual expense such as a down payment 

on a major purchase, or an emergency home repair. Unless the respondent paid with cash, 

money order, or cashier’s check, such expenses will appear in downloaded data files from 

financial web sites.

Purchases with receipts. Receipts typically contain descriptions and prices for items 

purchased. Respondents in the Consumer Expenditure Survey could run their receipts through a 

receipt scanner. The reviewed products included receipt scanners that are used in conjunction 

with software for managing expense reports for business travelers. Those products may not be 
36

appropriate for the Consumer Expenditure Survey “out of the box.” However, software 

developers could create an application specifically for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. That 

software could produce an image of the scanned receipt in a format such as PDF, JPG or TIF, 

and then apply OCR to extract data from the receipt. 

 Some of the reviewed products such as Shoeboxed allow users to photograph a receipt 

rather than scan it. The manufacturers of these products claim that their OCR engine can turn the 

image into text. As mentioned above, testing would be needed to determine whether respondents 

can use smart phone photography reliably this way. 

Receipts contain only a portion of the data required by the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. As described later, respondents would have to provide the additional needed data.

Purchases by cash with no receipts. There are several ways that respondents could 

create a record of their purchases when there was no receipt. First, they could use a smart phone 

to photograph the place of the purchase, or the items purchased. The photograph would be time 

and date stamped. Of course, this photograph would contain no details about the items 

purchased, such as their costs. However, a photograph creates a record, helping to ensure that 

the respondent does not forget to report the purchase. A photograph also could later serve as a 

recall aid, helping to jog a respondent’s memory about details about the purchase. 

Alternatively, the respondent could record a short audio clip about the purchase. For 

example, the respondent might use a smart phone to record a message like “I bought an umbrella 

from a street vendor for five dollars for my own use.” The audio file could be time and date 

stamped. Like a photograph, an audio clip could serve as a recall aid. One of the products 

reviewed, The Expense Tracker, uses such audio messages. Speech recognition software has 

recently become very powerful. However, at the current time speech recognition software could 

not reliably turn such audio files into text. The Expense Tracker, for example, requires the 

messages to be in a very restricted format for the speech recognition engine to work. In future 

years, speech-to-text software will be less error prone.

Another possibility is that the respondent could use a smart phone to text or email 

information about a purchase. The message would be time and date stamped. For example, the 

respondent might text “Pretzels, vending machine, $1.” 

Yet another possibility is that the respondent type in information about a purchase using a 

smart phone application developed specially for the purpose. That application might record the 

following: 

• The date and time of the purchase, recorded automatically by the smart phone

• The place of the purchase
37

• Information about the items purchased and the price. This information could not be 

extensive, because the respondent may not be able to spend much time typing on the 

smart phone at the place of the purchase 

Of course, photographs, audio clips, text or email messages, and data entry screens on 

smart phones can provide some but not all of the data required in the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. As described later, respondents would need to provide the additional needed data.

Purchases by gift and rebate cards, food stamps, WIC vouchers, money orders, or 

cashier’s check. Both gift cards and rebate cards are prepaid with a set amount of funds. Gift 

cards are typically honored by only one merchant. For example, a gift card could be worth $25 

which could be spent only at Starbucks. Rebate cards physically resemble ordinary credit cards, 

but they cannot be used to incur charges beyond the prepaid amount. 

Users usually are given access to a vendor-specific web site to view a list of transactions 

made with individual gift or rebate cards. However, these web sites generally do not provide a 

way for users to download a file containing those data. 

Similarly, purchases by food stamps, WIC vouchers, money orders, or cashier’s check do 

not appear in a file that users can download. 

 Respondents in a redesigned Consumer Expenditure Survey would have to treat these 

purchases as though they were cash purchases. They could enter data using the receipts. If there 

were no receipts, they would have to treat the purchases as cash purchases with no receipts. 

Purchases of items labeled with barcodes. Respondents could scan the barcodes on the 

items that they purchased, when those items carried barcodes. As described earlier, they would 

point their smart phone at the barcode, check that the image of the barcode appeared on the 

screen, and then click a button on the screen to take a photograph. Of course, barcodes provide 

only the identity of the product. As described later, respondents would have to provide the 

additional needed data.

Online purchases. With some online purchases, the merchant sends the buyer an email 

with information about the purchase. These email messages vary from one vendor to another, 

but they should always contain a description of the items purchased, the price, the vendor, and 

the date.

With other online purchases, the merchant does not send an email, but does provide a 

web page that confirms the purchase and displays information about the purchase. For example, 

some utilities such as an electricity provider offer a payment confirmation on a web page but not 

in an email. All contemporary web browsers have a feature for emailing the web page that the 

browser currently displays. Respondents could use that feature to email the purchase 

confirmation. 
38

As described below, these confirmations of online purchases could help respondents 

report all the needed data about their online purchases. 

Returns and exchanges. Returns and exchanges may appear in credit and debit card 

data along with purchases. When respondents download files from the web sites of their 

financial institutions or of PayPal or similar service, the returns and exchanges appear in the 

files. However, the files will not display how particular returns and exchanges are associated 

with particular purchases. For example, an account file could show a $25 credit from Macy’s, 

but the file would not show that the credit was for the return of a particular item that was part of 

an earlier $100 purchase. 

 When returns or exchanges involve an earlier cash purchase, they are usually documented 

with a receipt. As mentioned above, the receipt could be scanned or photographed so that the 

information can be extracted using OCR software. 

 When returns or exchanges are simply not documented with a receipt, or in credit card 

data, or in any other way, they can be recorded in the same manner as cash purchases with no 

receipt, as discussed above. For example, respondents could photograph the returned 

merchandise, make an audio file, or send a text message.

Of course, for any of these techniques, respondents would have to provide further 

information about returns and exchanges to meet the requirements of the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. A method for obtaining that further information is described next. 

Computer-assisted self interview. In summary, respondents could employ many 

techniques to supplement their memories when they report data in the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. The recall aids could be in many forms: 

• Data files downloaded from banks, credit card companies, PayPal, or other financial 

institutions, showing for each transaction: the date, dollar amount, and in some cases the 

payee

• Data that the respondents manually entered into their smart phones, using an application 

developed specially for the Consumer Expenditure Survey 

• Text messages about purchases. The respondent could enter a description of the items 

purchased, the price of each item, and other data

• Email messages about purchases. Again, the respondent could enter a description of the 

items purchased, the price of each item, and other data. Or, online merchants might send 

purchase confirmation emails 

• Web pages confirming online purchases 

• Barcode data that the respondents scanned into their smart phones. These barcode data 

could be converted into a list of items purchased 
39

• Files containing scans, or possibly photographs, or receipts. OCR software would 

convert those scans or photographs into text files 

• Photographs of the place where a purchase occurred, or of the merchandise purchased 

• Audio clips containing information about purchases. The respondent could record a 

description of the items purchased, the price of each item, and other data

Of course, these memory aids would rarely contain all of the information required by the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey. For example, credit card data files show the total amounts for 

purchases, not the individual items purchased. An additional method is needed to collect the rest 

of the data. That method could be a questionnaire. 

Respondents could send their data to a central system. That is, they could email 

photographs, audio files, downloaded account data files, purchase confirmation web pages, and 

the other recall aids to a repository that had been set up for each individual respondent. 

After having sent these data to the central system, a respondent could log in to a web site 

built specially for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The web site would administer a 

Computer-Assisted Self Interview (CASI) to collect all the needed data about each purchase.

The CASI system might put all the data that it received into chronological order. That is, 

the CASI system software would arrange all of the entries in the credit card and checking 

account data files, photographs, audio clips, text messages, email messages, online purchase 

confirmations, and lists of products obtained from barcode scans into chronological order 

starting with the first day of the reporting period. The CASI system would then question the 

respondent about each item in the chronological data.

CASI questions about purchases listed in data files downloaded from banks, credit 

card companies, PayPal, and other financial institutions. The CASI system would display 

the date and dollar amount of the purchase. The CASI system could ask the respondent for the 

rest of the needed data. For example, the CASI system would ask the respondent to categorize 

the purchase into one of the four Consumer Expenditure Survey categories (food away from 

home, food for home consumption, clothing, and other). It could then present a series of 

questions, asking the respondent to enter any further data that the survey requires. 

CASI questions about purchases listed in scanned receipts. The CASI system could 

recognize that an image was a scanned receipt, and, using OCR routines, convert the image into 

a text version of the receipt. The system could then apply routines that parsed this text in order 

to identify the individual purchases listed. Existing software for tracking expenses, reviewed 

above, does not consider the individual items in a receipt; it locates and captures only the total 

amount of the purchase. For the Consumer Expenditure Survey, the CASI system will need to 

capture the individual items. For example, a supermarket receipt might contain the line 

“Apples...1.50.” The CASI system could ask the respondent to verify that “Apples” was an 

adequate description of the purchase, and that $1.50 was the amount paid. The CASI system 
40

would ask for the additional data required by the Diary Survey, such as whether the food could 

be classified as “fresh,” “frozen,” “bottled/canned,” or “other.”

For this software to work, it must be programmed to handle purchases that are listed on 

more than one line on the receipt. For example, a single purchased item might be listed on two 

lines, the first line being “Apples...1.50,” and the second being “.75 lb at 2.00/lb.” Or, the 

second line might be, “Bonus card discount 1.00.” The software would need to have the 

capability to recognize which lines of the receipt were the ones that revealed the identity and the 

price of the purchased merchandise. This software therefore would have to apply the methods of 

computational linguistics or natural language processing. The success of this approach depends 

upon the quality of the receipt scans, the OCR software, and the software that finds and displays 

the purchase description and price printed on the receipt. 

CASI questions about lists of items generated from scanned barcodes. Lists of items 

generated from scanned barcodes would contain only the identity of the items. They would not 

contain price data about price or any of the other data required by the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey. The CASI system would therefore ask the respondent to enter the price for each item. 

The system could also ask the respondent to classify each item into one of the four Consumer 

Expenditure Survey categories, and to respond to further questions about each item. 

CASI questions about purchases reported via a smart phone application developed 

specially for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The CASI system would present questions 

about each item purchased, in order to collect all the needed data.

CASI questions about purchases reported via photographs, audio files, text 

messages, or emails. The CASI system would first show the photograph, play the audio file, or 

display the text message or email. The respondent would respond to questions about the 

purchase. In this way, the photograph, audio file, text message, or email would serve as a 

mnemonic to help the respondent recall the purchase. The CASI would ask questions to collect 

the needed data about the purchase. 

Potential advantages. The system described has a number of advantages. First, the 

quality of the data collected by this system relies primarily on documentation of various sorts, 

not on the accuracy of the respondents’ recall abilities. 

Second, the described system gives respondents multiple methods to report their 

purchases. Respondents who are most comfortable with texting could use that method to report 

their purchases. Respondents who were most comfortable with barcode scanning or audio 

recording or photography or using a document scanner could use any of those methods. 

Third, since the system involves a computer-administered questionnaire, it can check that 

the data appears complete and plausible. The software could detect omitted data. For example, 

if a respondent did not answer a question about whether purchased apples were “fresh,” “frozen,” 
41

“bottled/canned,” or “other,” the software could repeat the question. Better yet, it could be 

programmed to apply logic. For example, it might simply ask the respondent to confirm that the 

apples were fresh, not frozen or canned. 

The software might also detect respondent mistakes. For example if a respondent 

erroneously reported a $90 purchase of apples, the software might ask the respondent to confirm 

that this implausible entry was accurate.

Potential disadvantages. The system described also has a number of disadvantages. 

First, the system would need a method to avoid duplicate reports of any purchase. For example, 

a respondent might report a purchase by emailing an image of a scanned receipt. That same 

purchase might appear in a downloaded credit card data file. Some financial software packages 

can reconcile data from multiple sources. That capability will be crucial for the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey. 

 Replacing or supplementing paper diaries with new technologies for data collection 

conceivably might introduce new sources of measurement error. Most obviously, some people 

lack the computer skills or a willingness to use computers or smart phones. Those people may 

prefer to use the paper and diaries. This situation would turn the Consumer Expenditure Survey 

into a multi-mode survey and potentially introduce “mode effects.” “Mode effects” refer to bias 

caused by the methods used to collect the data. Conceivably, the data for respondents who use 

paper and pencil might systematically differ from the data for respondents who use smart phones 

or other technology purely because of the data collection mode. A large body of research has 

examined the problem of mode effects. The problem might be especially important if only the 

more wealthy respondents elected to use computers and smart phones. 

In addition, many people lack bank or credit card accounts and therefore cannot 

download any data from financial institutions; they would have to enter all their expenses 

manually, as cash transactions. These “unbanked” individuals are disproportionately young, 

male, indigent, Latino, and African American1

Very importantly, technology can malfunction or be frustrating to operate. For example, 

OCR software could make errors when it reads receipts, irritating respondents who have to 

repeatedly correct the mistakes. Barcodes on wrinkled paper may not scan correctly, making 

respondents impatient with the barcode system.

. Data collection software could therefore 

potentially create a systematic bias in the data relating to these demographic characteristics of the 

respondents. 

 

1 Blank, R.M., & Barr, M.S. (Eds.). (2009). Insufficient funds: Savings, assets, credit, and 

banking among low-income households. New York: Russell Sage Foundation
42

 Technology also may introduce human factors issues. For example, some respondents 

may find the task of scanning a receipt to be time consuming and burdensome. They might think 

that writing information in a diary is much less laborious than scanning the receipts. They might 

deliberately skip some receipts in order to shorten the task. Other technologies may have the 

same drawback. Data collection staff may not be able to predict which specific respondents will 

have problems with any particular technology.

 Asking respondents to photograph receipts could also introduce human factors concerns. 

Many people will have difficulty holding the smart phone still enough to prevent the photograph 

from being too blurry for the OCR software to operate well. Also, some receipts are difficult to 

photograph. Supermarket receipts can be two or three feet long by three inches wide. 

Photographing the entire receipt in one frame could distort the text so that OCR software cannot 

read it accurately. Taking several photographs of a single receipt could create insurmountable 

problems managing the output of the OCR software. 

The need for further research. For smart phone or personal computer applications to 

be suitable for data collection in the Consumer Expenditure Survey, they must reduce the 

measurement error associated with the current paper-and-pencil data collection methods. They 

must not merely replace problems associated with the paper diaries with different problems 

associated with technology. 

 Any new technology should be tested with respondents with a wide range of 

demographic characteristics and levels of experience and comfort with technology. The tests 

should evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the collected data, as well as the reactions of 

the respondents. A great deal of testing would be needed to ensure that the data collection 

methods of the Consumer Expenditure Survey successfully made the transition from paper-andpencil methods to technology-based methods. The Consumer Expenditure Survey could serve as 

the model for all survey researchers planning to adopt new technologies. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDICES 
APPENDIX A:

Financial Software Products
Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-1

Financial Software Product Website

Automatic 

Data 

Capture

Cash 

Expenditures

Transaction 

Reconciliation Splitting Categorization Custom 

Categories

AceMoney www.mechcad.net/products/acemoney    

BankTree Personal www.banktree.co.uk    2 

Budget Express budgetexpress.demarque.com/en    

Bundle www.bundle.com 4    

Buxfer www.buxfer.com 5 6   7 

ClearCheckbook www.clearcheckbook.com   

Expense Tracker www.theexpensetracker.com 11 

Fortora Fresh www.fortora.com 12    

iCash www.maxprog.com/iCash.html   13 

Mint www.mint.com  16 17  

Moneydance www.moneydance.com    19

Money Dashboard www.moneydashboard.com 22  23

moneyStrands money.strands.com     

Mvelopes www.mvelopes.com      

Quicken quicken.intuit.com      25

RichOrPoor www.shortcutsoft.com    

Rudder (discontinued) www.rudder.com 26

Thrive www.justthrive.com 28 29 30

Yodlee MoneyCenter www.yodlee.com/consumer.html      

You Need A Budget 3 www.youneedabudget.com   

Appendix A

Financial Software Products
Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-2

Financial Software Product

AceMoney

BankTree Personal

Budget Express

Bundle

Buxfer

ClearCheckbook

Expense Tracker

Fortora Fresh

iCash

Mint

Moneydance

Money Dashboard

moneyStrands

Mvelopes

Quicken

RichOrPoor

Rudder (discontinued)

Thrive

Yodlee MoneyCenter

You Need A Budget 3

CE 

Categories

Alcohol 

Subtotal

Tagging 

by 

Category

Abbreviations Data 

Export Instructions Returns & 

Exchanges Calendar SDK

 1 

 3 





 8   9

 10 



 14  15

 18 

20  21

 

24

  

  



 27



  31

 32 

Financial Software Products

Appendix A (cont.)
Appendix A (cont.)

Financial Software Products

Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-3 

Footnotes

1. AceMoney can export data in HTML, TXT, QIF, and CSV formats. 

2. With Bank Tree Personal, the user can categorize expenditures manually. Afterward, the system automatically assigns expenditures to 

the same payee into the same category.

3. Bank Tree Personal can export data in OFX, QIF, CSV, and XLS formats. 

4. Bundle.com can automatically download data from bank and credit card accounts, but not from investment accounts; this feature is 

planned for the future. Bundle.com is the result of a collaboration among Microsoft, Morningstar, and Citi. Its main feature is social 

networking. It presents data about how people in various parts of the US tend to spend their money.

5. Buxfer has many features that are tailored for households in which roommates share expenses and manage their money separately.

6. Buxfer has an unusual feature: Users can email or text data about transactions to an address that they receive from Buxfer. These 

transactions are then recorded in the transaction history.

7. With Buxfer, the user can specify rules, such as a rule requiring the system to categorize an expenditure as “food” if the word “pizza” 

appears in its name.

8. With Buxfer, the user can add an image of a receipt to a recorded transaction. 

9. Buxfer has an API. Calls are in the format https://www.buxfer.com/api/[command].[format]?token=login_token[¶ms]. Sample 

code is provided in Ruby, Python, PHP and Perl.

10. ClearCheckbook exports in CSV, QIF, OFX, and QFX formats.

11. With Expense Tracker, when users incur an expense, they telephone a speech recognition system and state the category name or 

number, and the amount of the expense. The user may also text this information to an address they receive from Expense Tracker, or 

enter the information online. The expense then appears in the user’s expenditure list.

12. Fortora Fresh can automatically import data from savings and checking accounts but not from investment or credit card accounts; for 

those, the user must download a file from the financial institution and then import it. Fortora Fresh automatically imports data from 

banks using a system called Direct Connect, which many banks do not support.

13. iCash actually allows users to perform an action that is the opposite of splitting: The user can enter several transactions and then group 

them together. The system adds the amounts of the individual component transactions to compute the amount of the total transaction.

14. With iCash, the user could enter the alcohol and non-alcohol components of the meal as separate transactions, and then group them 

together.
Appendix A (cont.)

Financial Software Products

Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-4 

15. iCash supports recurrent transactions. It also allows the user to create a list of “favorite” transactions. The user can enter a transaction 

from that list simply by clicking one of the favorites.

16. With Mint, cash transactions must be attributed to a recent cash withdrawal from an account, such as an ATM withdrawal from a

checking account. Mint does not support cash obtained in other ways, such as a gift, unless that cash is entered into and then 

withdrawn from an account.

17. Mint allows users to split transactions drawn from an account, but not cash transactions, since they were already split from cash 

withdrawals. For example, a user could split a $100 cash withdrawal into a $25 expenditure at Target and a $75 expenditure at 

Walmart. The user could not then split these expenditures any further to note the individual items purchased.

18. Mint exports only in CSV format.

19. Moneydance may allow users to create custom categories in future versions. 

20. Moneydance exports only in CSV format.

21. Moneydance has a developer’s kit that allows outside developers to create new functionality using Python.

22. MoneyDashboard is designed primarily for British users. It currently does not support cash transactions or split transactions or a 

calendar for recurring expenditures, but those capabilities are planned for future versions.

23. In MoneyDashboard, categories are called “groups” and sub-categories are called “tags.”

24. moneyStrands exports in CSV and PDF formats only.

25. Quicken allows users to merge and delete most categories, but certain categories cannot be deleted. Only categories that have at least 

one transaction can be merged.

26. Rudder sent a daily email to users, showing the status of all of their checking and credit card accounts, along with a “spendmeter” 

indicating whether they needed to scale back their spending. The product did not attempt to track individual expenditures, and did not 

consider expenditures in specific categories. It was intended only to provide an overview of cash flow with minimal effort on the user’s 

part.

27. One review of Rudder stated that the developers of the product hoped to allow third parties to develop “widgets,” which are graphs, 

charts, and tables that show financial activity.

28. Thrive is a product of LendingTree intended for 20 to 30 year old users who are not accustomed to budgeting. It provides minimal 

expense tracking, but offers more advice than most other products. It assumes that the vast majority of the user’s expenditures are 

transacted with a credit card, not cash or check.
Appendix A (cont.)

Financial Software Products

Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-5 

29. The FAQ section of Thrive indicates that the developer intends eventually to add a feature whereby manually entered transactions are 

reconciled with credit card statements.

30. Thrive automatically categorizes transactions. Moreover, it records the way that users categorize transactions and automatically 

categorizes future transactions into the categories that the user selected.

31. Yodlee offers an API that enables developers to create new Adobe Flex-based applications. Many of the other financial software 

products were created using the Yodlee API.

32. You Need A Budget exports in CSV and QIF only.

Explanations of the Column Labels

Automatic data capture. A checkmark denotes that the financial software product can automatically import data from checking, debit card, 

credit card, PayPal, investment or other accounts. The users provide the user name and password for each account. The product then 

downloads the data periodically from the web site of each financial institution. No checkmark denotes either that the product does not use data 

from such accounts (true for only Expense Tracker) or that the user must import the data manually. The user downloads an OFX, QIF, CSV, or 

QFX file from the web site of the financial institution and then uploads that file to the financial software product.

Cash expenditures. A checkmark denotes that the financial software product allows users to manually enter expenditures that are paid in cash 

rather than with a credit or debit card or check. The lack of a checkmark denotes either that users can not enter cash transactions at all or that 

the user must enter cash transactions as though they were bank or credit card account transactions. The user must split cash withdrawals from 

those accounts into the purchases that the user made with the cash. The user has no way of logging transactions made with cash obtained 

without a cash withdrawal, such as with cash obtained as a gift.

Transaction reconciliation. A checkmark denotes that the software can reconcile check, debit card, or credit card transactions with manually 

entered expenditures automatically. The software matches the date and amount of the expense that the user entered manually with the date 

and amount of the expenditure recorded in the account. The software then marks the expense as reconciled. The lack of a checkmark denotes 

that the user must reconcile expenses manually. The user compares manually entered expenses with those listed on an account summary from 

the financial institution. Products that reconcile automatically generally permit users to reconcile manually also.
Appendix A (cont.)

Financial Software Products

Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-6 

Splitting. A checkmark denotes that the software allows users to split individual expenditures into smaller component expenditures. For 

example, an expenditure at Walmart can be split into a clothing component and a food component. The lack of a checkmark denotes that the 

software does not permit the user to split expenditures.

Categorization. A checkmark denotes that the software automatically categorizes credit and debit card expenditures into categories. For 

example, an expenditure at McDonald’s is automatically categorized as “food.” The software typically categorizes only certain expenses and 

uses only certain categories. Users must manually correct any errors that the software commits. Users must also manually categorize 

expenditures that the software was unable to categorize. Some software products allow the user to set rules. For example, the user could 

specify that all expenditures containing the work “pizza” be categorized as “food.” The lack of a checkmark denotes that the user must always 

manually categorize all expenditures.

Custom categories. A checkmark denotes that the software allows users to create, delete, and change the name of categories or sub-categories. 

The lack of a checkmark denotes that the software does not offer that flexibility.

CE categories. A checkmark denotes that users could, if they wanted, set up just the four categories that are used in the diaries for the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey: 1. Food and drinks away from home; 2. Food and drinks for home consumption; 3. Clothing, shoes, jewelry, and 

accessories; and 4. All other products, services, and expenses. The lack of a checkmark denotes that users are not permitted to add, delete, or 

customize categories at all or that they are not permitted to delete some categories that are not among these four.

Alcohol subtotal. The CE diary requires respondents to record both the total cost of a meal away from home, including any alcoholic beverages, 

and a subtotal for just the alcoholic beverages. A checkmark indicates that the software allows the user to record both the total meal 

expenditure and the alcohol subtotal. This capability is different from the “splitting” capability. The splitting capability does not allow the user 

to record a total and a subtotal. It merely allows the user to record a “meal non-alcohol” subtotal and a “meal alcohol” subtotal; the overall 

total is not recorded. Only one product (iCash) has the “alcohol subtotal” capability. 

Tagging by category. A checkmark denotes that the software allows users to enter the information needed for the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey about each expenditure. The CE diary requires respondents to enter different data about different categories of expenditures. For food 

away from home, the respondent must classify the expenditure as fast food, full service, vending machines, or cafeteria; the respondent must 

classify the alcohol portion as wine, beer, or other. For food for home consumption, the respondent must classify the expenditure as fresh, 
Appendix A (cont.)

Financial Software Products

Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-7 

frozen, bottled/canned, or other, and whether the food expenditure is for someone not on the respondent’s list. For clothing, the respondent 

must classify the expenditure as for male or female, for age under 2, 2-15, or 16 and over, and whether the clothing expenditure is for someone 

not on the respondent’s list. For all other purchases, the respondent must indicate whether the expenditure is for someone not on the 

respondent’s list. A checkmark indicates that the user can tag each expenditure according to those criteria. That is, a checkmark indicates that 

the software permits the user to set up a separate set of tags for each expenditure category. For example, the user would have to choose 

“wine,” “beer,” or “other” only for alcohol beverage expenditures; those choices would not be offered for other expenditures, such as clothing. 

No financial software product had that capability. The lack of a checkmark indicates either that the user cannot tag expenditures at all, or that 

when the user creates a tags, they apply to every expenditure, and cannot be restricted to just expenditures in specific categories. Many 

products allow the user to add notes to a transaction; this capability is not sufficient for a checkmark.

Abbreviations. Credit and debit card files often contain abbreviations. A checkmark indicates that the product resolves abbreviations into 

meaningful text. For example, when the product encounters “TGT” it displays “Target.” Only two products, Mint and Quicken, advertise this 

capability. Both are products of Intuit. The lack of a checkmark indicates that the software does not resolve abbreviations. Many products, 

however, allow the user to create a list of vendors and to assign a vendor from that list to any expenditure.

Data Export. A checkmark indicates that the user can export expenditure data to Excel, CSV, QIF or other format file. The lack of a checkmark 

indicates that the software does not allow the user to export expenditure data.

Instructions. A checkmark indicates that the user can customize the software so that it presents instructions. For example, the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey requires the respondent to enter the total cost without tax for expenditures in the category “all other products and 

services.” Instructions could help ensure that the user remembers to exclude tax from the amount of the expenditure. No product has this 

capability.

Returns & exchanges. A checkmark indicates that the user can note that a purchased item was returned for a refund or an exchange, and the 

user can record the amount of the refund or the cost of the item acquired in the exchange. No financial software product has this capability. 

Many products can note returns, but those returns cannot be associated with a particular purchase. That is, the expenditure list might include 

“Walmart, credit, $50” in the “clothing” category, but there would not be any indication of which specific clothing purchased at Walmart was 

returned.
Appendix A (cont.)

Financial Software Products

Appendix A: Financial Software Products A-8 

Calendar. A checkmark indicates that the software includes a calendar or other means for displaying recurring payments such as mortgage

payments. The lack of a checkmark indicates that the software records recurring expenditures, but it handles them exactly like any other 

expenditure.

SDK. A checkmark indicates that a Software Development Kit or Application Programming Interface (API) is available that enables developers to 

add or customize the functionality of the software. 

Note: Two products that we intended to review, Wesabe and Kublax, are defunct and not included. Rudder is also defunct, but it is included in 

the matrix because several reviews and descriptions of it are still available on the Internet. 
APPENDIX B: 

Mobile Carriers 
Appendix B: Mobile Carriers B-1

Criteria ATT Verizon Sprint/Nextel T-Mobile

Mobile Devices Supported. Will identify which mobile 

devices included in this market scan are available through 

each of the mobile carriers included in the market scan.

iPhone 4,

iPad 3G,

RIM Torch 9800

DroidX,

iPad (non 3G)

(Rumors of iPhone to be coming)

HTC EVO 4G None currently analyzed

Mobile voice technology standard. Which voice mobile 

technology is currently employed by the carrier? (GSM, 

CDMA, Other? )

GSM CDMA CDMA/iDen GSM

Mobile data technology. Which mobile data technology is 

currently employed by the carrier? (HSPA/UMTS, EVDO, 

Other?)

UMTS /HSPDA EVDO EVDO for 3G. UMTS/HSDPA

4G Mobile Data Strategy. Does the Carrier have a 4G 

mobile data strategy? If so, which technology is planned 

to be employed? (WiMAX, LTE, Other 

Comments/Specify)

LTE Roll out planned to begin 2011 LTE Roll out currently underway 4G WiMAX (Clearwire) being rolled out in 

select cities. Possible consideration of LTE for 

Future rollouts

Rolling out HSPA+ as a 4 G solution

Price Plans. What are the general monthly price plan 

options for voice service with the carrier? (Specify)

Offers monthly 

Individual Plans 

(starting at $60 for 450) , 

Family Plans with shared family minutes, 

Prepaid Plans, Data Plans and Corporate 

plans. 

Plans generally include 

• Unlimited calling to other AT&T 

wireless customers with Mobile to 

Mobile while in the U.S. 

• No roaming or long distance charges in 

the U.S. 

• Saving unused minutes with Rollover® 

• Get unlimited calling to and from your 

favorite U.S. phone numbers at no extra 

charge with A-list. Details

• Unlimited calling on Nights and 

Weekends for most plans 

See Price Plan link below for detailed 

information

Offers monthly 

Individual Plans 

(starting at $40 for 450 , 

Family Shared minute Plans, Prepaid 

Plans, Mobile Broadband and 

Corporate plans. 

All plans include Unlimited Mobile-toMobile Calling,

No Domestic Roaming or Long 

Distance Charges

Unlimited Night and Weekend 

Minutes

See Price Plan link below for detailed 

information

Offers several plans: 

Simply Everything and Simply Everything 

Family - Provides unlimited calling and data 

plans for individuals and Family (starts at 

$90/mo/line)

Everything Data and Everything Data Family - 

Provides unlimited data use (web email 

texting) but limited minutes on voice calls. 

Everything Messaging and Everything 

Messaging Family - Provides unlimited 

messaging but has limits on voice and data.

See Price plan link below for further 

information

Offer several monthly plans for Individuals 

and Families

Talk plans begin at $60/mo 

Other Plans include Talk + Text,

Talk + Text + Web.

Price plans range depending upon number of 

minutes of talk time or amount of data 

usage. See Price Plan link below for further 

details 

Mobile Carriers 

Appendix B
Appendix B: Mobile Carriers B-2

Criteria ATT Verizon Sprint/Nextel T-Mobile

Price Plans Discounts. Does the carrier offer price plan 

discounts (e.g. Family Plans etc..)? If so specify. 

Y - Offers Shared minute calling plans as 

well an in Network free calling plans. 

Some plans allow unused minutes to be 

rolled to next month

Y - Offers shared minute plans. Some 

plans allows for prespecified out of 

network free call numbers. Offer 

lower cost for additional lines. 

Y - Offers lower cost per additional lines for 

family plans. Provides Options for early start 

of free night rates

Y - Offers shared minutes plans and lower 

cost for additional lines.

Prepaid Options. Does the carrier offer prepaid service 

plans? 

Y Y Y Y

Carrier Coverage. Does the carrier offer nationwide 

coverage? Where available access to geographical 

coverage information will be provided.

Y Y Y Y

Coverage map link http://www.wireless.att.com/coveragevi

ewer/#?type=voice

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/

CoverageLocatorController?requestty

pe=NEWREQUEST

http://coverage.sprint.com/IMPACT.jsp http://coverage.tmobile.com/default.aspx?MapType=Data

Price Plan Link http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phoneservice/cell-phone-plans/index.jsp

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/

store/controller?item=planFirst&actio

n=viewPlanOverview

http://shop.sprint.com/NASApp/onlinestore/

en/Action/DisplayPlans?filterString=Business

_Plans_Filter

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/CellPhone-Plans-Overview.aspx

Appendix B (cont.)

Mobile Carriers 
APPENDIX C: 

Mobile Device Operating Systems (OS)
Appendix C: Mobile Device OS C-1

Criteria: Apple iOS Android WebOS Blackberry Windows Mobile 

Mobile devices utilizing the OS. Are 

the mobile devices included in the 

market scan using this OS? If so, which?

iPhone 4,

iPad

Motorola DroidX,

HTC EVO 4G

N RIM Blackberry Torch 9800 N

Target Market. Is the target market for 

this OS consumer or commercial?

Initially Consumer focus. 

Emerging quickly for 

Commercial use. Security and 

Business capabilities & 

applications becoming more a 

focus of Apple.

Primarily Consumer, Beginning 

to Emerge for commercial and 

business applications - but still 

early stage

Both - but currently in decline 

in both consumer and business 

markets. HP hopes to reignite

Primarily Commercial Primarily Commercial. Currently 

retired. New OS Windows - Phone 

replacing Windows Mobile..

Development community and tools. Is 

there a community of developers and 

available tools for application 

development? 

Y - An SDK is available from 

Apple. And there is a strong 

development community for 

the iOS environment. 

Developers need not develop 

or host their own distribution 

sites as applications 

(considered to be legitimate by 

Apple) that run on the device 

are distributed through the App 

store and iTunes. The 

development community 

continues to grow rapidly. 

Y - A development 

environment and tools exist. 

The development environment 

is very open (plug in for the 

open Eclipse IDE development 

environment is available), and 

application distribution is also 

open with many options. This 

development community is 

rapidly growing and maturing. 

An Google/Android 

marketplace exists for 

distribution of applications.

Y - An SDK and development 

community do exist. Plugins for 

the open Eclipse IDE exist. HP 

continues to support 

development forums. However 

because the devices using this 

OS have lost some market 

share to others, this 

development community is not 

growing as quickly as the other 

communities are. This could 

change should HP develop a 

slate/tablet or more handheld 

devices that use this OS. 

Y - Blackberry provides a plugin 

for the open Eclipse IDE and an 

SDK exists to enable 

development. The community 

is typically more business 

application focused and their 

doesn’t exist the breadth of 

applications as exists for some 

of the other environments 

largely due to the lack of a 

broad distribution model as 

exists with (for example) the 

Apple app store. 

Y - Windows Mobile was based on 

the Windows CE (Compact Edition) 

OS. A development environment has 

existed. Windows also has developed 

a Windows Marketplace for Windows 

Phone OS application distribution.

Mobile Device Operating Systems (OS)

Appendix C
Appendix C: Mobile Device OS C-2

Criteria: Apple iOS Android WebOS Blackberry Windows Mobile 

Are there applications available for 

the OS. Is there a range of applications 

readily available for the OS, and is it 

expected to continue to grow? Yes, No, 

Comments/Specify:

Y - Applications can be sold 

and distributed through the 

Apple App Store and itunes. As 

a result of the growth of the 

development community 

largely due to the ease of 

application distribution the 

spectrum of available 

applications - both consumer 

and business targeted - is large 

and continues to grow

Y - The community continues 

to grow and the number of 

applications being developed 

and becoming available is 

increasing at a fast pace. This is 

largely due to the openness of 

the environment that Google 

has created, allowing for 

applications to more easily be 

able to take advantage of 

device capabilities for the 

applications being developed.

Y - However due to the fact 

that the market of devices 

using this OS has diminished, 

fewer applications appear to be 

available than ones available 

for other device operating 

systems. 

Y - Applications are available. 

RIM/Blackberry has historically 

been known to be more of a 

business oriented device - less 

of a multimedia capable device, 

as a result applications are 

typically more business 

focused. as primarily being an 

email device 

Y - Applications were available for 

this environment - but they were 

typically business oriented as the 

devices were more business oriented 

devices. 

Adoption and growth. Does it appear 

from the market that this OS will 

continue to grow and evolve? Yes, No, 

Comments/Specify:

Y - iOS supports iPhones and 

iPads. Although somewhat of a 

closed environment, Apple's 

app store provides a platform 

for ongoing development and 

the availability of both 

consumer and commercial 

applications. Apple continues 

to focus on enterprise needs 

including security.

Y - Android is an open 

environment resulting in the 

increased availability of both 

consumer and commercial 

applications that are causing 

the use of this OS to evolve and 

grow. While currently primarily 

used for smartphone like 

mobile devices, the release of 

Slate and iPad like devices are 

well underway (e.g. Samsung 

Galaxy Tab)

Unknown. Currently WebOS is 

losing Market Share. HP's plans 

are unclear 

Y - Because of its deeps roots in 

the commercial market RIM 

continues to be a contender

N - Windows Mobile is no longer 

being promoted. A new operated 

named Windows Phone has recently 

been released in November that is 

not rooted in the windows CE 

platform. The OS appears to be more 

like the Android and iOS graphical 

environment, however It will take 

some time to see how the market for 

this OS matures 

 HTC, Samsung, LG and others have 

announced phones that operate the 

new OS. T-Mobile and ATT have 

recently started carrying some 

Windows Phone 7 devices. Verizon 

and Sprint wont likely begin offering 

phones on this new OS until 2011. 

Reviews indicate that the OS is 

promising when compared to others 

like Android and Apple iOS.

Appendix C (cont.)

Mobile Device Operating Systems (OS)
Appendix C: Mobile Device OS C-3

Criteria: Apple iOS Android WebOS Blackberry Windows Mobile 

Does the OS support multitasking. 

Does OS provide an ability to multitask 

– allowing user to leave one 

application, invoke another (e.g. image 

capture) and return to the original 

application as though uninterrupted?

Y - as of iOS 4 Y Y Y Y

 Multimedia support. Does the OS 

support multi-media capabilities (e.g. 

camera, audio, video, etc)?

Y Y Y Y Y

Website. http://www.apple.com/ios/ http://www.android.com/ http://developer.palm.com/ http://us.blackberry.com/appssoftware/

For windows phone -> 

http://marketplace.windowsphone.co

m/Default.aspx

Unique Features. Does the OS provide 

any additional unique features that 

may be relevant to CES? 

Possibly - Because of the size of 

the development community, 

ability to identify and develop 

special purpose applications, or 

the ability to string together 

existing applications may be 

easier for CES use 

Possibly - Because of the size of 

the development community, 

ability to identify and develop 

special purpose applications, or 

the ability to string together 

existing applications may be 

easier for CES use 

None identified at this point. 

May require further 

investigation in the future

None identified at this point. 

May require further 

investigation in the future

N - Windows Mobile is no longer 

supported. There should be some 

consideration of the new Windows 

Phone OS in the future after its 

become more established in the 

market.

Mobile Device Operating Systems (OS)

Appendix C (cont.)
APPENDIX D: 

Mobile Smart Phone Devices
Appendix D: Mobile Smartphone Devices D-1

Criteria Apple iPhone 4 Motorola Droid X HTC EVO 4G RIM Blackberry Torch 9800

Device keyboard. Physical or touch screen. Usability for 

capturing expense information that may need to be manually 

entered. Touch Screen Touch Screen Touch Screen Physical Keyboard and Touch 

Screen Keyboard

Image Capture. Ability for device to capture images of 

purchases that may serve as reminders for participant, of items 

purchased throughout the day. Images captured may also 

include receipts, or barcodes for alternate expense data capture 

approaches. Ease of use information provided as available. 

Camera Present (rear facing and 

front facing) Camera Present (single) Camera Present (rear facing and front facing) Camera Present (single)

Audio Capture. Ability for device to capture audio or dictation. 

Recordings of purchases throughout the day may serve as a 

quick approach for capturing purchase information throughout 

the day. Participant may review recordings at a later point to 

serve as reminder while populating CES forms. 

Audio Recording capable Audio Recording capable Audio Recording capable Audio Recording capable

Text and Email capable. Ability for device to easily send emails 

and text messages. Messages to an email address may serve as 

an approach to log purchases. Additionally, ability for 

multimedia messaging (MMS) provides the ability to send 

images or audio as attachments providing supporting material 

to reminder messages. Comments to include additional relevant 

information as available. 

TEXT and Email Capable Text and Email capable TEXT and Email Capable TEXT and Email Capable

Device weight. Device Size and weight may be a factor in the 

likelihood participants carry the device with them at all times. 

Weight of device to be provided where available. 4.8 oz 5.96 oz 6 oz 5.68 oz 

Device Form Factor. General device form factors to be 

described as suitable for carry and ease of use throughout the 

day. (HxWxD)

Suitable

4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 inches

Suitable

4.56 x 2.36 x .54 inches

Suitable

4.8 x 2.6 x 0.5 inches

Suitable 

(closed) 4.37 x 2.44 x 0.57in (open) 

5.83 x 2.44 x 0.57in

Device Operating System. Specify the operating system of the 

mobile device. iOS 4 Android 2.1 with Motoblur 2 Android 2.1 with HTC 

Sense RIM BlackBerry 6 OS

Mobile Smartphone Devices 

Appendix D
Appendix D: Mobile Smartphone Devices D-2

Criteria Apple iPhone 4 Motorola Droid X HTC EVO 4G RIM Blackberry Torch 9800

Device CPU. Specify the CPU options available for the device. Apple A4(Max @ 1 GHz for iPad 

not confirmed for iPhone 4) TI OMAP 3630 @ 1 GHz Qualcomm 8650 Snapdragon @ 1GHz Marvell PXA940 running 624 MHz 

Memory. Specify memory options available for the device. 512 MB RAM 512 MB RAM 1GB ROM / 512 RAM 512 MB RAM

Storage. Specify storage options available for the device. 16 GB / 32 GB Internal 8GB Micro SD Card (see 

below) 4GB integrated memory

MicroSD Card; Specify external memory options available for 

the device. None 16 GB included (up to 32 GB) 8 GB included (up to 32 GB) 4 GB

Multitasking. Information to be provided regarding the devices 

ability to multitask – allowing user to leave one application, 

invoke another (e.g. image capture) and return to the original 

application as though uninterrupted.

Yes (iOS 4) Yes (Android OS) Yes (Android OS) Yes

Battery Life. Ability to rely on the device for purposes of 

capturing data for CES will require that devices have sufficient 

battery power in support of this purpose. Specifications of 

battery power expectancy without recharge will be provided as 

available. 

Talk time: 

Up to 7 hours on 3G 

Up to 14 hours on 2G 

Standby time: Up to 300 hours 

Internet use: 

Up to 6 hours on 3G 

Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi

Video playback: Up to 10 hours 

Audio playback: Up to 40 hours 

Approximately up to 8 hours 

usage/talk time and up to 

220 hours standby time

No official record 

published- up to 6 hours 

of talk time in 

independent tests.

18 days (GSM) or 14 days (UMTS) 

standby; 5.5 hours (GSM) or 5.8 

hours (UMTS) talk

Carrier Availability. Identification of which mobile network 

operators carry the device. ATT Verizon Sprint ATT

Appendix D (cont.)

Mobile Smartphone Devices 
Appendix D: Mobile Smartphone Devices D-3

Criteria Apple iPhone 4 Motorola Droid X HTC EVO 4G RIM Blackberry Torch 9800

General Device Price. Information to be provided with regards 

to cost of device as well as usage plans that may be device 

specific. This information may be insightful regarding 

participant demographics. Information to be provided as 

available. 

$199 for 16 GB $299 for 32 GB 

with ATT 2 year contract

$199.99 with 2 year contract 

and rebate

$199 with 2 year 

contract and rebate

$99 with 2 year contract and 

rebate

Website: http://www.apple.com/iphone/ http://www.motorola.com/C

onsumers/US-EN/ConsumerProduct-and-Services/MobilePhones/Motorola-DROID-XUS-EN

http://www.htc.com/us/

products/evo-sprint

http://us.blackberry.com/smartph

ones/blackberrytorch/

WI-FI Capable. Is Device Wi-Fi capable 802.11 b/g/n 802.11 b/g 802.11 b/g 802.11 b/g/n 

GPS Capable. Is device GPS capable Yes Yes Yes Yes

Mobile Smartphone Devices 

Appendix D (cont.)
APPENDIX E: 

Mobile Applications for Expense Data Collection
Appendix E: Mobile Application for Expense E-1

Criteria Shoeboxed mobile Budgetdroid (Professional) Mybudget IXpenseit EXGIS Certify ProOnGo

Device Agnostic. 

Determination if application is 

available on numerous devices 

and if so which. 

N (Mobile app currently only for 

iPhone)

N (Intended for Android Devices) N (Intended for iPhone) 

Android version "coming soon"

N (Intended for iPhone) N (Intended for Blackberry) Y - Blackberry, Windows Mobile, iPhone, 

Android

Y- BlackBerry,iPhone, Android, 

Windows Mobile)

Expense Entry. Is the entry of 

expense information 

performed manually or 

automated (e.g. receipt image 

scan)

Y Y - Manual Y - Manual Y - Manual Y - Manual Y Y

Image Capture. Does the 

application allow for image 

capture of receipt? 

Y N N Y N Y Y

OCR Capable. Does the 

application perform (or 

attempt to perform) OCR on 

the image and determine 

expense amounts? 

Y N N N N Y Y

Line Item purchase 

information. Does the 

application capture line item 

information or aggregated 

receipt information? 

N - Tracks to the total of the receipt Y - tracks to the level of detail entered 

by the user

Y - tracks to the level of detail entered 

by the user

Y- allows user to capture expense at 

level of detail they enter

Y- allows you to capture 

expense at level of detail 

they enter

N - Tracks to the total of the receipt N - Tracks to the total of the 

receipt

Capture of Payment Method. 

Does the application capture 

payment method?

N Y - uses accounts for payment types Y Y Y Unknown N 

Diary fields captured. Are all 

the fields in the diary able to 

be captured? (Information 

provided as available)

N - doesn’t itemize at line items N - However a notes field can potentially 

be used to capture additional diary field 

information

N - However a notes field can potentially 

be used to capture additional diary field 

information

Unclear - allows user to create 

subcategories as well as notes for 

each purchase. These fields could 

potentially be used to capture diary 

information. Also captures vendor 

item was purchased at 

N - However a Description 

field can potentially be used 

to capture additional diary 

field information

N - However a Reason field can 

potentially be used to capture additional 

diary field information

N- However allows users to 

create additional fields to 

capture as part of expense

Configuration Capability. If all 

fields are not able to be 

captured – is there an ability to 

add additional fields as 

needed? (Data will be provided 

as available)

Y Y- but very limited - Allows for creation 

of new categories 

Y- but very limited - Allows for creation 

of new categories 

Y Y- but very limited - Allows 

for creation of new "Expense 

Types" 

Y- but very limited - Allows for creation 

of new categories 

N- However allows users to 

create additional fields to 

capture as part of expense

Expense Categorization. Does 

the application capture 

expense categories, can this be 

performed automatically or is it 

manually entered?

Yes - determines Category 

Automatically based on Vendor 

name

Y - manually Y Y - 2 levels - Category and sub 

category

Y - referred to as "Expense 

Types"

Y Y

Additional Expense categories. 

Does the application allow for 

creation of new categories?

Yes Y Y Y Y- User can create new 

Expense Types

Y Y

Mobile Applications for Expense Data Collection

Appendix E
Appendix E: Mobile Application for Expense E-2

Criteria Shoeboxed mobile Budgetdroid (Professional) Mybudget IXpenseit EXGIS Certify ProOnGo

Data Export. Does the 

application allow data to be 

exported and if so, how and in 

what formats?

Y Y Y Y - individual expenses or reports 

can be emailed 

Y - allows for export to Excel Y - Integrates with Certify Desktop 

Expense report Application - Exports can 

be performed from Desktop

Y- Exports to Excel as well as 

other formats 

Web Portal data view and edit. 

Does the application provide a 

mechanism to view collected 

data online and validate/ 

modify as necessary?

Y N N N Y - Exgis offers an optional 

Internet Edition 

Y - Certify Desktop Application Y- with subscription 

Source Code or Library 

availability. Is there general 

availability of source code or 

integration for product 

modification. Information 

provided where generally 

available.

Y - API unknown N unknown unknown Unknown Unknown

Integration with other expense 

management tools. Does the 

application have the ability to 

integrate with desktop or web 

based expense management 

applications?

Y N N N N Y - Certify offers a scanning receipt 

option (they sell a scanner for $139) and 

can be integrated with their on Demand 

service. This may be an option for 

consideration. 

Can be integrated with 

Quickbooks

Multi Language Support. Does 

product support multiple 

languages. If so, ones 

supported provided as 

comments. 

Unknown Unknown English and German Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown

Cost of Product. General cost 

of product.

Several versions exist 

Business $50/mo includes 500 

scans/mo

Classic $30/mo includes 150 scans / 

mo

Light $10/mo includes 250 scans/mo

Annual plans include additional 

discounts

Personal version Free

Professional version last seen advertised 

at .99

0.99 $4.99 $4.99 Mobile app for download is free but the 

service that is integrated with their 

expense system is approximately $10/mo 

per user (price per user reduces as 

number of users increase)

Mobile application is free for 

download. Three subscription 

packages are available for Online 

Web access -.99/month, 

2.99/month and 4.99/month

Website Product Website http://www.shoeboxed.com/mobilereceipts-business-cards/

http://www.jeremygottwig.com/android

/pbd.php

http://www.roqapps.com/iPhone/mybu

dget/mybudget.html

http://itunes.apple.com/app/ixpens

eit-expense-incomecashflow/id284947174?mt=8

http://www.exgis.com/produ

ct_expensetracker.aspx

http://www.certify.com/ www.proongo.com

Notes: Additional relevant 

information or notes

While Budget Droid can be used to track 

expenses it is more intended to be used 

for managing to a budget. The user 

determines a budget amount for each 

category and as they spend they are 

reminded as to how much they have 

spent in that categories and how much 

budget remains. Should a tool of this 

sort be used it may influence and 

possibly reduce the amount a 

participant would have otherwise spent 

in that category. 

While Mybudget can be used to track 

expenses it is more intended to be used 

for managing to a budget. The user 

determines a budget amount for each 

category and as they spend they are 

reminded as to how much they have 

spent in that categories and how much 

budget remains. Should a tool of this 

sort be used it may influence and 

possibly reduce the amount a 

participant would have otherwise spent 

in that category. 

Similar to BudgetDroid and 

Mybudget, this tool provides the 

ability to capture expenses and 

manage to a budget, however the 

budget feature can be turned off so 

that expenses are not tracked 

against a predetermined budget 

allocation.

Certify is used to for employees to 

capture, track and receive approval for 

reimbursement of business expenses. 

Receipts are imaged on a mobile device 

and emailed from the mobile device and 

can also be captured via a scanner. The 

server performs OCR to determine the 

expense amount and allows the 

employee to modify information 

regarding the expense online and then 

submit to management for approval.

Appendix E (cont.)

Mobile Applications for Expense Data Collection
APPENDIX F: 

Barcoding Software for Mobile Devices
Appendix F: Barcoding Software for Mobile F-1

Criteria RedLaser Shop Savvy TheFind Google Shopper

Ability to operate on several device types. Is the 

application able to work on the devices included 

in the market scan? If so, specify which ones. 

Y - iPhone (Android 

announced on Dec 8, 2010)

Y - iPhone and Android 

devices

Android and iPhone Android

Scan history. Does the application store a history 

with time and date stamp of items barcoded?

Y - Retains a list of scanned 

products

Y N Y

Email. Does the application allow scanned 

information to be emailed (e.g. to be used as a 

reminder of purchase)? Yes, No, Comments:

Unknown - Feature list 

indicates ability to email 

scanned items. Not clear 

from attempts to use.

Allows for lists to be shared 

through Dropbox and 

several other social network 

(e.g. Facebook, Twitter)

Allows for finds to be 

shared through social 

network applications 

(e.g. Facebook, )

Allows for links to finds to 

be shared through Gmail 

and social network 

applications (e.g. 

Facebook,Twitter etc.. )

Ease of use. Does the application allow for 

barcodes to be scanned easily and quickly? 

(Information provided as available from research)

Y - allows for quick scans of 

bar codes. The multiple 

feature allows users to take 

multiple bar 

Y - scans fairly easily Y (for its intended 

purpose)

Y (for its intended 

purpose)

Capture of additional information. Does the 

application allow for additional information to be 

stored with the barcoded product information 

(e.g. actual product cost) ? 

N Y- items scanned can be 

edited and additional 

attributes regarding the 

product can be added.

N - no obvious notes 

or other fields

N

Configuration. Does application provide an ability 

to be configured or modified for special purpose 

use: 

N Y- items scanned can be 

edited and additional 

attributes regarding the 

product can be added.

N N

Barcoding Software for Mobile Devices 

Appendix F
Appendix F: Barcoding Software for Mobile F-2

Criteria RedLaser Shop Savvy TheFind Google Shopper

SDK availability. Any SDK or Library available? Yes - SDK available for 

integration of barcoding into 

other developer applications

Yes - SDK available for 

integration of barcoding into 

other developer applications

N Unknown

Price. What is the cost of the application? 

Specify:

Free Free Free Free

WebSite: Product Website www.redlaser.com http://shopsavvy.mobi/ http://www.thefind.c

om/

http://www.google.com/m

obile/shopper/

Notes Very specific purpose, 

not configurable. 

Intended to quickly 

find best deals - scan 

item, uses location to 

display best deals on 

item. No history etc 

available. Uses 

RedLaser technology 

for scanning.

Very similar to TheFind. 

Very specific purpose not 

configurable. Intended to 

quickly find best deals - 

scan item, uses location to 

display best deals on item. 

Appendix F (cont.)

Barcoding Software for Mobile Devices 
APPENDIX G: 

Scanners and Relevant Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Capabilities
Appendix G: Scanners and OCR G-1

Criteria Xerox XTravel Scanner Brother (formerly Pentax) 

DSmobile 600 

 NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner and 

Digital Filing System 

Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 Mobile 

scanner 

Ability to scan multi size paper. Receipts come in all 

sizes, ability to scan various sizes could serve 

important.

Y Y Y Y

Auto multi page scanning. Ease of use could play a 

role in participant utilization. Ability to automatically 

capture multiple pages could play a role in a 

participant’s decision to scan multi page receipts. 

N- Single Pages at a time N- Single Pages at a time N- Single Pages at a time (For 

Mobile Scanner) Y- Up to 10 pages

Optical Resolution of scanner. Does device have 

sufficient dots or pixels per inch (DPI/PPI) resolution 

for receipt scanning. (300 dpi typically required for 

OCR)

Y - 600 dpi Y - 600 dpi Y - 600 dpi Y - 600 dpi 

OCR supporting software included. Does scanner 

package include OCR software for character 

recognition. If yes, type is described in comments 

field.

Y - Includes Nuance 

PaperPort and Omnipage Pro

Y - includes PageManager 

7.0 , DSmobileSCAN , Y - Includes NeatWorks Software

Y - Includes ScanSnap Manager 

V4.2, ScanSnap Organizer V3.2, 

CardMinderTM V3.2

Export to other formats – (e.g. Microsoft Excel). 

Does the scanner provide software for data to be 

exported to Excel or other potential software 

products for expense management. Y- A wide range of image 

formats can also be 

converted into PDF –

including TIFF, MAX, JPG, 

BMP and GIF.

Creates PDF text searchable 

documents. Other formats 

Unknown

Y - Images can be saved in JPEG, 

PDF and other popular formats

Data can be sent to .XLS 

(Microsoft® Excel®), .RTF (Word), 

Outlook, .OFX, and .QIF 

(Quicken®), .TXF (TurboTax®), .IIF 

(QuickBooks®), .CSV, HTML, and 

PLAXO 

Creates PDF text searchable 

documents. Other formats 

Unknown

Standard Drivers. Does scanner utilize standard 

drivers allowing for the potential to utilize additional 

software products deemed by the study? Y - Visioneer OneTouch, 

TWAIN and WIA Y - TWAIN & WIA N - Scanners can only operate 

with Neat Software 

N - (uses ScanSnap specific driver - 

TWAIN not supported)

Scanners and Relevant Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Capabilities: 

Appendix G
Appendix G: Scanners and OCR G-2

Criteria Xerox XTravel Scanner Brother (formerly Pentax) 

DSmobile 600 

 NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner and 

Digital Filing System 

Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 Mobile 

scanner 

Intended for expense management. Does scanner 

provide specific software or other capabilities 

intended for expense and receipt management? 

Yes, No, Comments:

N - Intended for image 

capture. Specialized 

software may be necessary 

to create expense reports

N - Intended for image 

capture. Specialized 

software may be necessary 

to create expense reports

Y

N - Intended for image capture. 

Specialized software may be 

necessary to create expense 

reports

Aggregated or line item level expense 

management. If software is intended for expense 

management, does it capture and convert individual 

line item expenses or receipt totals? Yes, No, 

Comments:

NA NA

Captures Aggregated / Total 

receipt amount - no line item 

management

NA

Automatic or manual categorization of expense. If 

software is intended for expense management, does 

it automatically categorize the expense or is this 

performed manually?

NA NA Automatic NA

Creation of new categories. If software is intended 

for expense management, does it allow for creation 

of new categories?

NA NA Y NA

Accuracy. If software is intended for expense 

management, information will be provided as 

readily available through web searches on its 

accuracy performing this task. 

Omni Page Pro (17) rated 

high for OCR accuracy Unknown Mixed reviews - see customer 

comments at link below

Y - Online review indicate that 

between 70 to 80 percent of the 

card scans produced accurate 

results

Ability to view, validate, and modify. Does the 

software provide an ability to view, validate and 

modify scanned information? 

Y - Through OmniPage Pro Unknown Y - NeatWorks allows fields to be 

edited after scanned Unknown

Appendix G (cont.)

Scanners and Relevant Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Capabilities: 
Appendix G: Scanners and OCR G-3

Criteria Xerox XTravel Scanner Brother (formerly Pentax) 

DSmobile 600 

 NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner and 

Digital Filing System 

Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 Mobile 

scanner 

Price. General Product Purchase price to be 

provided. $120-$200 $110-$155 $199 $206-$300

Product Website.

http://www.xeroxscanners.c

om/en/us/products/ts100/ 

http://www.xeroxscanners.c

om/downloads/manuals/TS1

00/TS100_datasheet.US.pdf

http://www.brotherusa.com/Scanners/modeldet

ail.aspx?PRODUCTID=DS600

&tab=spec 

http://www.newsoftinc.com

/products/productmain.asp?productid=NAI002

0&productmenus=159&sub

menus=520

http://store.neatco.com/index/pa

ge/product/product_id/26/produc

t_name/NeatReceipts

http://www.fujitsu.com/us/servic

es/computing/peripherals/scanner

s/scansnap/s300.html

Customer/user comments. http://www.obsessable.com/featu

re/obsessable-neatdesk-review/

http://thefutureofthings.com/artic

les/1014/fujitsu-s300-scannerreview.html

Appendix G (cont.)

Scanners and Relevant Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Capabilities: 
APPENDIX H: 

Selected Laptops (for use by the CAPI Interviewers)
Appendix H: Laptops H-1

Criteria: Toshiba – Tecra A11 (S3540) HP ProBook 4520s Fujitsu - LIFEBOOK E780 Dell – Latitude E5510

Device size and dimensions. Specifications 

of device size and dimensions to be 

provided.

(W x D x H ): 14.7” x 9.86” x 1.31”/1.48" (W x D x H ): 14.64" x 9.83" x 1.09" (W x D x H ): 14.64" x 10" x 1.42" (W x D x H ): 14.61`" x 9.84" x 1.33"

Device Weight. Specifications of device 

weight to be provided.

Starting at 5.63 lbs., depending upon configuration Starting at 5.26 lb depending upon configuration 6.1 lb - depends upon configuration Starting weight 5.64 lbs

CPU and Memory. Specifications of CPU 

and memory to be provided.

Intel Core i7-620M processor

2.66 GHz (3.33 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 

4MB Cache

Mobile Intel QM57 Express Chipset.

CPU Options Include:

Intel® CoreTM i7-620M Processor (2.66 GHz, 4 MB L3 cache)

Intel® CoreTM i5-520M Processor (2.40 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)

Intel® CoreTM i5-430M Processor (2.26 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)

Intel® CoreTM i5-450M Processor (2.40 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)

Intel® CoreTM i3-370M Processor (2.40 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)

Intel® CoreTM i3-350M Processor (2.26 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)

Intel® CoreTM i3-330M Processor (2.13 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache)

Intel® Celeron® Processor P4500 (1.86 GHz, 2 MB L3 cache)

Memory Options include:

8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM

8 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM

Intel® CoreTM i5 or i7 processor, Intel® vProTM technology

Intel® CoreTM i7-640M processor (2.80 GHz, 4 MB)

Intel® CoreTM i7-620M processor (2.66 GHz, 4 MB)

Intel® CoreTM i5-560M processor (2.66 GHz, 3 MB)

Intel® CoreTM i5-540M processor (2.53 GHz, 3 MB)

Intel® CoreTM i5-520M processor (2.4 GHz, 3 MB)

2 GB (1 module(s) 2 GB) DDR3, 1066 MHz, PC3-8500, SO DIMM

4 GB (1 module(s) 4 GB) DDR3, 1333 MHz, PC3-10600, SO DIMM

Intel® CoreTM i7 (640M)

Intel® CoreTM i5 (580M, 560M, 460M)

Intel® CoreTM i3 (370M)

Up to 4GB4 DDR3 SDRAM at 1333Mhz - 2 DIMMS

Build Quality. Insights on build quality and 

durability of devices to be provided where 

known.

The notebook opens and closes smoothly, though the 

hinges offer enough resistance that the notebook 

often lifted slightly from the desk if you attempt to 

open it with one hand. Above the display, you’ll find 

the system’s webcam. Tecra A11-S3540 has a 

textured finish in charcoal black. Considering this 

notebook primarily targets business users, we think 

this finish was a wise choice on Toshiba's 

part—Business users who want an understated 

design will definitely appreciate the finish on the A11. 

In addition, this finish doesn't tend to attract 

fingerprints like other high gloss finishes we've seen 

on some of Toshiba's Satellite models. (Hot Hardware 

review)

Build quality is very good and a step up from the older model. The 

brushed metal lid gives the 4520s some much needed strength and 

screen protection that the plastic lid on the previous model lacked. The 

palm rest and speaker grill also gained some rigidity and now offer very 

little flex under strong pressure. The chassis as a whole feels very well 

built but still a step below full business notebooks like the EliteBook or 

ThinkPad series. The keyboard tray has some minor flex under pressure 

which wouldn't be a problem on the more expensive models.

 (Notebook Review)

Like most business-focused laptops, the E780 isn't the prettiest machine 

to look at. Big and boxy, it's finished in a combination of silver and matte 

black. It's pretty heavy, at 2.75kg, and quite thick, too, measuring 36mm 

deep, so it's more likely to appeal to desk-bound workers rather than road 

warriors. Its chunky dimensions mean it feels remarkably well built -- even 

when you apply pressure to the chassis and lid, there's very little give. 

Despite its more modest price, the E5510 uses magnesium 

alloy in its frame and hinges, whereas other SMB laptops 

like the Dell 3300 and Lenovo Edge 15 primarily use plastic. 

It's as tough as enterprise laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad 

T410 ($1,484 direct, ) and HP EliteBook 8440w ($1,650 

direct, ), which are designed to absorb a great deal of shock, 

survive drops, and bear the brunt of an everyday commute. 

Video Image Quality. Image quality 

insights to be provided. 

High-resolution widescreen 15.6-inch display. Some 

models also offer NVIDIA NVS 2100M graphics.

15.6" diagonal LED-backlit HD anti-glare

Graphics Capability include: Integrated Intel HD Graphics

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 530v with 512 MB dedicated video memory.

15.6" diagonal supports HD or HD+ display with LED backlight

Several Display Options available: 

39.6 cm (15.6-inch), LED backlight, (HD+), anti-glare display, magnesium, 

1600 x 900 pixel, 300:1, 220 cd/m2

39.6 cm (15.6-inch), LED backlight, (HD), anti-glare display, magnesium, 

1366 x 768 pixel, 400:1, 220 cd/m2

39.6 cm (15.6-inch), LED backlight, (HD), anti-glare display, compound, 

1366 x 768 pixel, 400:1, 220 cd/m2

2 Graghics Versions available 

LIFEBOOK E780 with High Performance NVIDIA® graphics

LIFEBOOK E780 Intel® graphics

Two Video Display Options available:

15.6′′ HD+ Wide View Anti-Glare LED Display (1600 x 900)

15.6′′ HD Anti-Glare LED Display (1366 x 768)

Intel HD Graphics with dynamic frequency

Selected Laptops (for use by the CAPI Interviewers)

Appendix H
Appendix H: Laptops H-2

Criteria: Toshiba – Tecra A11 (S3540) HP ProBook 4520s Fujitsu - LIFEBOOK E780 Dell – Latitude E5510

Keyboard and touch pad. Keyboard and 

touch pad usability information to be 

provided.

The keyboard is nice and roomy with a pretty 

standard layout and matte keys that won't attract 

fingerprints. Anyone who regularly uses his laptop for 

data entry will also appreciate the roomy 10-key 

numeric keypad. The TouchPad has a smooth finish 

with a defined edge and two silver buttons beneath. 

Between these mouse buttons, you'll find the A11's 

fingerprint sensor. 

Full-sized spill-resistant keyboard with drain and separate numeric 

keypad.

ClickPad includes gestures support; Two fingers scroll, zoom, pinch and 

pivot rotate.

The full-size keyboard on the 4520s shares the same design as the one 

found on the 4510s and provides fantastic spacing between keys for 

typing as well as a dedicated number pad (a major plus for businesses 

that use their computers for number crunching or data entry). 

The individual key presses are quiet without loud clicking sounds as you 

type. The depth of each key press is excellent, though some people may 

dislike the flat, chicklet-style keys. Overall the keyboard layout is 

extremely nice for a 15-inch laptop.

Overall the touchpad was very sensitive and easy to use (not including 

the aforementioned problems). Tracking speed was excellent and we 

had no problems with input lag. Multitouch gestures were quickly 

recognized and worked smoothly. The touchpad refresh rate was very 

high, allowing us to draw fast circles with very little trailing effect on the 

cursor. If the touchpad didn't have the problems associated with the left 

and right buttons with fingers resting on the surface, it would have been 

one of the nicer models we have used on a notebook.

The traditional Qwerty keyboard sits centrally between the two speakers 

and uses standard tapered keys. It feels very solid and there's almost zero 

flex, but the keys on our model felt a little sticky and had a slower action 

than what we're used to. It's possible the keys may free up over time with 

prolonged usage.

The trackpad is relatively small by 15-inch laptop standards and has two 

sets of buttons at the top and bottom. The top set is designed to be used 

with the point stick that comes with another variation of this laptop. 

Although a point stick wasn't included with our model, the buttons were 

still present and a tad annoying, as they were easily tapped accidentally 

when typing.

The Keyboard offers a clear layout and for all keys an 

agreeable size. Typing proves to be a bit jerky but after a 

certain accommodation period is found to be pleasant. A 

feasible bend of the keyboard unit wasn't noticed.

The touchpad/trackpoint combination surface has good 

gliding qualities and above that two scroll areas. Especially 

both accompanying touchpad keys turned out as quite 

pleasant. These let themselves be pressed with an 

agreeable resistance and can be used with just one or even 

with both hands. 

Alternately, the mouse cursor can be controlled with the 

trackpoint. The shape of the trackpoint didn't really 

completely convince in the test, though. The smooth frame 

led to the finger sliding off of it. The fact that the trackpoint 

needs a certain amount of pressure to react didn't make it 

easier, either.

Battery Life. Information on battery life to 

be provided. 

Battery Life Rating (measured by MobileMark 

Productivity 2007) Included 6 cell battery: 3 hours, 7 

minutes

Options include:

9-cell (93 WHr): up to 10 hours (integrated)

9-cell (93 WHr): up to 8 hours (discrete)

6-cell (47 WHr): up to 5 hours (integrated)

6-cell (47 WHr): up to 4 hours (discrete)

Standard graphics - Runtime 1st battery up to up to 12 h - Runtime 1st 

and 2cnd battery up to 18 h

With NVIDIA® graphics - Runtime 1st battery up to 5 h - Runtime 1st and 

2cnd battery up to 8 h

Battery life may vary depending on product model, configuration, 

applications, power management settings and features

utilized

Dell E5510 includes a big 85WH (9-cell) battery - 

the Dell E5510 shined in MobileMark 2007—a battery test. 

It scored 7 hours 5 minutes,

Pros. General pros for each device to be 

provided. 

User Findings:

Appeared to run cooler, ease of port location, audio 

and video recording quality, touchpad, HDMI 

availability.

Toshiba has included additional security features such 

as a fingerprint reader with the A11. Inclusion of 

EasyGuard Technology provides added protection 

from shocks and spills and enhanced data security. 

User Findings:

Fast, high build quality, weight, uncluttered design, speaker sound, 

wireless on/off key, battery life, anti-glare, HDMI.

Fast performance 

Impressive security features 

Excellent build quality 

Good battery life 

Excellent keyboard and very good display.

Custom configuration options for small businesses

Cons. General cons for each device to be 

provided. 

Applications appeared to launch slightly slower, 

weight, speaker sound quality

Sound recording and webcam - seemed like poorer quality than some 

others, trackpad, fewer USB ports than some of the others

Disappointing screen 

Below-par keyboard and trackpad 

No eSATA or digital video output.

Pricey for what you get; no discrete graphics.

Price & Warranty. Standard pricing and 

warranty of devices as available to be 

provided. 

A11-S3540 has an MSRP of $1,349 with a three-year 

limited warranty. Other models in the Tecra A11 

series start at $879

Series begins at Starting at: $ 549.00. Cost increases with options. HP 

Services includes a one-year standard parts and labor warranty, pick-up 

or carry-in, and toll-free 7 x 24 hardware technical phone support 

(depending on model). On-site service and warranty upgrades are also 

available. 

MSRP starting at $1,149. Cost increases with options.

1 year (Intel GFX) / 2 years (NVIDIA GFX) - depending on configuration

Dell Starting Price $579. Cost increases with options

2 year warranty

Website http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/tecra/A11 http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/321957-321957-

64295-3929941-3955552-4145198.html

https://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/docs/ds-lifebook-e780.pdf http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latitudee5510/pd?~ck=anav

Reviews http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Toshiba-TecraA11S3540-Review/http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/527437/review/probook_45

20s.html

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/fujitsu-lifebook-e780-review50000908/http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/567632/review

/latitude_e5510.html 

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367901,00.asp

Appendix H (cont.)

Selected Laptops (for use by the CAPI Interviewers)
APPENDIX I: 

Selected Tablet/Slate Devices
Appendix I: Tablet Slate Devices I-1

Criteria Apple iPad HP Slate Dell Streak (AKA Mini 5) Lenovo U1

Operating System. Latest operating 

system available for the device. iOS 4 Windows 7 Android

Dual Mode: Windows 7

Tablet Mode: Lenovo’s Skylight 

Linux-based OS 

(OS may be changing)

Processor. Information regarding device 

processor. 1GHz Apple A4

Intel® AtomTM Processor Z540 (1.86 

GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 533 MHz 

FSB) Qualcomm 1 GHz Snapdragon

Dual Mode: Intel CULV (Dual Core ) 

processor

Tablet Mode: 1GHz Snapdragon 

Screen/Video specifications. Information 

regarding screen size and resolution . 9.7 inch 4:3 IPS LCD 

(1024X768)

8.9" capacitive multi-touch screen 

supporting 1024×600 pixel 

resolution with digitizer and pen 

support

5" LCD 11.6-inch HD LED touch screen

Storage. Information regarding device 

storage. 16,32,64 GB Up to: 64 GB 16 GB storage, 512 MB ROM, 512 

MB RAM

Unknown

Weight. Information regarding device 

weight to be included. 1.5 lbs Starting at 1.5 lb .48 lb

Laptop mode 3.8 lb

Tablet Mode: 1.6 lb 

Dimensions: 9.56 x 7.47 x .5 in 9.21 x 5.91 x 0.58 in 6.02 x 3.11 x .39 in

Battery Life. Length of battery time prior 

to charge being necessary. 10 hours video, 140 hours 

audio, 1 month standby

up to 5+ hours Stand-by Up to 400 h 

Talk time Up to 9 h 48 min 

Tablet Mode: 5 hours of 3G Web 

browsing and 60 hours of 3G 

standby

Camera. Information regarding camera or 

other video capture options. No

Integrated 3 MP camera (outward 

facing); Integrated VGA webcam 

(inward facing)

5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, 

autofocus, dual-LED flash 1.3-Megapixel camera

Wireless Connectivity Options. Available 

wireless connectivity information.

Wi-Fi, 3G (HSPA/GSMoptional), Bluetooth

Integrated 802.11b/g/n + 

Bluetooth 3.0 + HS combo

Connectivity Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), 

Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS with AGPS, UMTS 2100 / 1900 / 850 MHz 

GSM, / EDGE 1900 / 1800 / 900 / 

850 MHz HSDPA / HSUPA:HSDPA, 

7.2 Mbps / HSUPA 5.76 Mbps, 

PDMI 

Wi-Fi - others expected but 

unknown

Selected Tablet/Slate Devices

Appendix I
Appendix I: Tablet Slate Devices I-2

Criteria Apple iPad HP Slate Dell Streak (AKA Mini 5) Lenovo U1

GPS: Assisted GPS No Assisted GPS Unknown

I/O Options. Information regarding input 

and output connectivity options. 30-pin: Camera Only , 

USB add on USB Unknown Unknown

Multitasking. Information regarding 

Device/OS ability to multitask. Yes (New to iOS 4) Yes Yes Yes in in laptop mode 

Availability of Applications. Information 

regarding the availability of applications 

for the device.

Applications are 

purchased and 

downloaded through the 

Apple app store and 

iTunes 

Runs Windows applications Runs Android applications Laptop mode runs Windows 

applications

Price. Pricing information. $500-$830 Depending 

upon options $799 Starts at $299 with ATT 2 year 

contract Estimated to retail at $999.00

Updates. Information available regarding 

known updates and new versions A new iPad is rumored to 

become available in 2011, 

will likely include a 

camera - currently not 

found on the existing iPad

Originally device was planned to 

use WebOS as the Operating 

system. Hp opted for Windows7 in 

order to target corporate 

customers with existing 

applications running on Windows. 

Device order Backlogged 

Currently runs Android 1.6. 2.2 

Android upgrade planned for end 

2010

7 and 10 inch models are rumored

Availability of device has been 

delayed by Lenovo. Rumors 

indicate this may focus on utilizing 

Android OS in place of other OS. 

OS direction still unclear.

Website:

http://www.apple.com/ip

ad/

https://h30406.www3.hp.com/ca

mpaigns/2010/promo/HPSL/index.

php?

http://content.dell.com/us/en/cor

p/d/videos~en/Documents~Dell%2

0Streak%20-

%20The%20versatile%205-

inch%20Android%20tablet.aspx.as

px

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/noteb

ooks/ideapad/u1

Information source/links

http://store.apple.com/u

s/browse/home/shop_ipa

d/family/ipad

http://en.wikipedia.org/w

iki/IPad#cite_not

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/ww

pc/us/en/sm/WF06a/321957-

321957-64295-3841267-3955550-

4332585.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Sl

ate_500

http://www.dell.com/us/p/mobilestreak/pd

http://www.gsmarena.com/dell_st

reak-3353.php 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_

Streak

http://www.islates.us/?p=646

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2010/0

5/29/lenovo-kills-off-skylight-osskylight-and-u1-hybrid-get-axedlenovo-to-shift-away-from-skylightos-and-focus-on-google-android/

Appendix I (cont.)

Selected Tablet/Slate Devices