Look Ma, no computer!
The first thing you need in order to bid on or purchase an item on eBay is a computer with an Internet connection. Right? Wrong! With technology solutions developed by members of the eBay Developers Program, you can access eBay on your cell phone, PDA, or even your TV via a set-top box. Technology developed by two members of the eBay Developers Program – BIAP Systems and Bonfire Media – is helping eBay members all over the world unshackle themselves from their computers.
|
Take eBay on the go with a cell phone or mobile device |
BIAP Systems, a Plano, Texas company, introduced an eBay software package for digital cable television that buyers to keep track of their online bidding activity via their television sets, using their remote control device. BIAP's eBay on TV feature enables viewers to log into their eBay accounts to view their watch lists and bid on items. They also receive alerts on their television screens when they've been outbid or when they've won an item.
"Users have described eBay on TV as really cool," says Dan Manack, Executive Vice President of BIAP. "Bringing the world's largest online marketplace to TV is a great innovation that provides access to eBay on what is by far the most utilized consumer electronics device.”
While not many people who watch Monday Night Football or The Simpsons are likely to call their televisions "the most utilized consumer electronics device," the eBay on TV feature is solving a long-standing Hobson's choice for people who love both eBay and their favorite TV shows. As nealigator says, “I love the eBay on TV alerts because I can stay up-to-date on listings even when I'm not on my computer.”
BIAP’s eBay on TV feature is currently available at no cost to approximately 50,000 digital subscribers in the Austin, Texas market, and they’re planning to expand into other markets.
But what if you're neither at your computer nor watching TV?
eBay on the Go
2004 eBay Star Developer Award winner Bonfire Media developed technology to deliver eBay Wireless to the eBay community. Using the Bonfire custom Java interface, you can shop, compare prices, bid, buy, check My eBay and get outbid notices – all on your cell phone or mobile device.
Giving people easy access to eBay on the small screen of a mobile device meant taking on some unique design and technology challenges. "We've minimized the typing required in order to save the user time and optimize the experience," says Bonfire Media CEO and Co-Founder, Alex Poon. Member 4tonianne appreciates the freedom eBay on the Go gives her. "It's the coolest thing. I go ‘garage sale-ing' a lot, and I can look up an item on eBay and see what it's going for. You can actually see the listing page."
Bonfire's deals with wireless services such as Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, and Verizon help make sure that our Community has a wide range of choices for eBay wireless access.
BIAP and Bonfire are just two of the companies developing technologies that are changing the way we use eBay. The eBay Solutions Directory already includes over 160 software applications that do everything from listing your items in bulk, to mapping your searches by geography.
In addition, the new eBay Community Codebase is a new forum for Open Source developers who want to contribute code and work collaboratively on new projects for the eBay platform. Some of the interesting applications emerging from the Codebase are already breaking new ground in how members interact with eBay. These include searching and buying on eBay via TiVo personal video recorders and a new My eBay toolbar for the Firefox web browser. (Read our story in September's issue of The Chatter to learn more about how the Community Codebase Helps Developers Create and Collaborate.)
New technologies are not only making eBay access more convenient, they are liberating in many ways, freeing up members to enrich their lives away from their computers, while still doing the things they love on eBay.
