eBay for iPhone gets notifications, pay-on-phone

(Credit: CNET)

A new update to eBay's free iPhone application (App Store link) enables users to better keep an eye on items they're interested in buying.

Users can now opt to receive push notifications for when they've been outbid, or when an auction they're watching is close to ending. As soon as a watched item enters that threshold, the user gets a message that both alerts them and gives them a quick option to jump back to the item to make an increased bid.

The app isn't just about viewing, though; users can now use it to make payments. Using eBay's PayPal technology--and only PayPal--iPhone users can now make a purchase bid on a new item directly from the device, without having to go back and use a regular computer or deal with the payments in mobile Safari. However, this option does not apply to all items.

If an eBay item requires immediate payment, the purchase bid must be made on a normal computer or via eBay's desktop application.

eBay was one of the first big applications to hit the iPhone, shortly following the release of the device's 2.0 operating-system version, which included the App Store and installable native applications. The company later demonstrated push-notification features onstage at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference in June of 2008, an entire year before Apple actually made the feature available as part of OS 3.0.

(via MacRumors.com)

[RompStar_420]

cool, just downloaded it

[BogusBasin]

You have an iPhone? Even though Apple screens the applications? Even though you can't multi-task? How can this be?

Amen

[monkeyfun14]

@BogusBasin

You don't have to religiously love a company just because you own one of their products.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I will be picking up this app to update my existing one shortly myself. I have had to set calendar alerts to remind me of auctions before they close prior to this. This is a nice addition.

It's useful. I wonder why Apple didn't block it. :)

[mrcockrell]

Just making a great app better nothing like having ebay in your pocket...for me this app alone makes my iPhone worth the money

[TheJeep]

You have 924 messages in your iPhone inbox?

[Vegaman_Dan]

LOL! That's nearly the truth when I made the mistake of following Woot! on Twitter. Whenever they have a Woot Off! it clutters the twitter feed horribly.

[sciontcya]

Ebay has done a great job with this app.
I am a heavy "eBayer" and it's a model for what apps should be like.
Consistently good updates, solid and good UI.

[R-dox]

Excellent app!

[EvanSei]

I will be navigating to the app store shortly to get this

[sciontcya]

Been using it all day - the new notifications work great!
Awesome update.

[Rants&Raves]

eBay still matters ?

[dahliab]

I am getting ready to purchase the Iphone for so many reasons. I currently have a blackberry 8310. Can anyone tell me the simplest way to transfer contact information?

[bledsoe812]

I tested the notifications. I started watching an item. The end of the auction came and went w/o a notification. Do I have to bid on an item first? I assumed it would notify me that one of my watched items is nearing end of auction.