Online-auctioning site eBay has become so ubiquitous that it is astonishing that it has taken so long for it to be turned into an iPhone application. But its eBay Mobile delivers on the site’s potential and has found ways to improve on its long-established setup.
One major addition is the option to check completed auctions. Although there is not a clear delineation of which auctions are closed and which are still active, it is a handy reference for buyers and sellers alike. Navigating the app is as easy as maneuvering its Web site counterpart, which is great for trigger-happy eBay addicts who need to check the price of that vintage ’60s clown lamp at a moment’s notice while on the go. The support of push emails for alerts means that the app will do the tracking for you, though it isn’t 100 percent reliable just yet.
Unfortunately, you can’t add a listing — you’ll still need to saddle up on your computer chair at home or work for that. Also, search results don’t always seem to mesh with what turns up on the regular site. Random auction searches on the Web site, for instance, sometimes featured about two or three extra auctions not found on eBay Mobile. Unlike the Web site, the app does not check what is available on Half.com. But these are relatively small drawbacks for the ability to track eBay from anywhere with an Internet signal.
