The paid app [iTunes link], which was featured in Apple's "Shopper" commercial for the iPhone (see below), is now available for free. eBay will begin to add its more than 200 million listings from eBay into the app, along with products from the 7,000 merchants partnered with Shopping.com (which, according to eBay, includes 95 of the top 100 retailers).
eBay also intends to integrate RedLaser's barcode-scanning technology into its own iPhone applications, including eBay Marketplace, eBay Selling, StubHub and Shopping.com, which have already been downloaded by more than 10 million users collectively. Many other applications already use RedLaser's technology, from grocery shopping lists to gift registries.
“Mobile enables consumers to make impulse buys and convenient purchases wherever they are, and eBay is constantly innovating to make mobile shopping easy and reduce the friction in commerce,” said Mark Carges, chief technology officer and senior vice president, global products, eBay Marketplaces in a statement. “With RedLaser’s innovative technology, eBay is continuing to help shoppers quickly find the best deals online, and eBay sellers will be able to list their items faster.”
Although the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, it's a logical step for eBay, who claims that a purchase is made every two seconds via its mobile applications for iPhone, Blackberry and Android. As a RedLaser user, I'm a open to the inclusion of eBay listings in the application, so long as eBay does not prioritize the listings of its own properties over other retailers'.
RedLaser and eBay users: What do you think of the acquisition? Do you welcome eBay's listings on the iPhone app?
iPhone "Shopper" Commercial