eBay adds barcode scanning to iPhone app

Digital marketplace eBay released a new version of its iPhone application that adds RedLaser barcode scanning technology, offering consumers new tools to comparison shop across a variety of product categories. According to eBay, iPhone app users can now more efficiently research sales trends, quickly list items for sale and manage listings--in addition, sellers can search completed listings to see what similar items recently sold for, and leverage the RedLaser scanning technology to list it for eBay sale in 60 seconds or less. Also new: My eBay Quick View (a homescreen solution including watching, buying and selling updates as well as access to the member's user profile including their feedback), Buyer Protection, Quick PayPal Payment, Saved Searches and Reminders.

eBay acquired startup Occipital, developer of the RedLaser solution, in June 2010. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Occipital solution combines computer vision algorithms with mobile devices to create a human-computer interface augmenting user vision--RedLaser, developed last year, enables consumers to scan barcodes to compare product prices and access related shopping information.

eBay introduced its first mobile application in July 2008. Since that time, worldwide users have bought or sold more than 30 million items via eBay mobile apps.

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