Amsterdam's high street shops (insert obligatory "high" joke here) have implemented round-the-clock window shopping with a 24/7 mobile commerce platform that uses QR codes and PayPal. Thirty shops in De 9 Straatjes ("The Nine Streets") are taking part in what PayPal is calling a mobile shopping tour.

Participating shops have placed QR codes in their windows that shoppers can scan, using the 9straatjesonline mobile app on their phones. The codes automatically direct the user to a mobile website where they can learn more about products displayed in the shop's windows. Shoppers can select products to purchase and pay for them from their PayPal accounts. Shipping takes about two days, according to PayPal.

Posting on the company's blog, Eelco van Wijk, PayPal country manager for the Netherlands and Belgium, explained the strategy behind the Amsterdam program:

At PayPal, we are firm believers that technology will dramatically impact the retail environment in the coming few years. Mobile is fast becoming the navigation system for our lives and smartphone adoption in The Netherlands is currently at 44 percent (well above the European average of 30 percent).

While we are very proud of the QRoute model in De 9 Straatjes zone, this is not an end station. We see this as a first step into that convergent world for PayPal in the Netherlands. 2012 is a test-and-learn year for all of us at PayPal around the world. We are testing many new ways for customers to shop anywhere they want. With this project, we’re learning more about how to maximize the fantastic real estate available in shop windows to help sales 24/7.

A video demo of the PayPal program is below:

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