EBay Auctions by SMS Expands to 3 More Countries

The SMS messaging agregator, mBlox says that it is working together with application service provider Dynetic to deliver a new SMS re-bidding service to eBay in the UK, France and Belgium. This service ? identical to that launched across Spain by the two companies in September last year ? will enable users to monitor and participate in the online bidding process, even when they are no longer in front of their PC.

The service is powered by mBlox inbound and outbound premium SMS services.

eBay's SMS re-bidding service enables users to track bids through "outbid" alerts and to react quickly from their mobile should they need to increase a bid. The UK service, which costs £0.12 (US$0.24) plus VAT per message, will be offered to users as an option when a bid is placed online.

Ian Jordan, Head of Product Development, Operations and Innovation, eBay UK describes the advent of mobile bidding as a fundamental transformation of the Internet auction experience.

"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.

Posted to the site on 30th August 2007