Shop Like Michael Jackson With This App

In the 2003 documentary Living With Michael Jackson, the late King of Pop was filmed shopping for art and furniture in a Las Vegas store, pointing at things he liked and walking out, leaving his handlers to settle the bill. Now, a startup in Japan is trying to make that retail experience a reality for everyone.

Primo's app lets users skip the checkout line by using their smartphones. A scan of a QR code instantly completes a purchase. The eight-person startup is betting that businesses will sign up for the service. Since debuting in October, Primo has attracted 90 merchants in Japan, including a craft chocolate maker, the preferred tea brand of Japan's imperial family and high-end audio-equipment maker Bang & Olufsen.