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EBay rolls out mobile bidding

by Hayley Pinkerfield, Revolution UK 30-Aug-07, 10:00

LONDON - EBay is launching mobile bidding in the UK, France and Belgium, allowing users to monitor auctioned goods while on the move.

The SMS re-bidding service enables users to track bids through ‘outbid’ alerts, so they can react from their mobile if they need to increase a bid.

The UK service, which costs 12 pence plus VAT per message, will be offered to users as an option whenever they place a bid online. No downloads or up-front payments are necessary, and the solution is available on any mobile phone.

Ian Jordan, head of product development, Operations and Innovation, eBay UK, describes the advent of mobile bidding as a fundamental evolution in internet auctioning.

"Traditionally web auctions are a desk-based activity and many auction biddings end prematurely because people leave their PCs. The possibility to participate beyond the PC from a mobile phone will have massive implications for the dynamics and value of the auction process," said Jordan. "It will mean more potential buyers will participate for longer producing better deals for everyone."

The service, being delivered by mBlox and Dynetic, rolled out across Spain in September 2006, and is scaleable for reproduction across other European markets. EBay currently has 266 million global users.