Can I use eBay on my mobile phone?

Our mobile expert says...

Mobile phones and smartphones are ideal for buying and selling over the internet because their 3G and wi-fi connections mean you can sniff out the latest bargains wherever you are.

eBay on a mobile phone

eBay is the world’s largest online marketplace, so you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the website has designed a free app that lets you buy and sell things directly from your smartphone.

The eBay app is available on:

• The iPhone 4
• The iPad
• Android smartphones, such as the HTC Incredible S
• Windows Phone 7 smartphones, including the Samsung Omnia 7
• BlackBerry smartphones, such as the Bold 9780.

A search bar at the top of the app makes sniffing out online bargains via eBay extremely simple, while alternative methods, such as via deals or items ending soon, ensure you can see the latest deals quickly and simply.

The app even lets you sell things through eBay’s online marketplace, with many of the website’s ordinary PC features also available. For example, Quick Listings feature promises to help you list an item in under one minute.

Your smartphone’s camera can even be used to snap and upload a picture of the item. For items you still have the original box you can simply take a photo of its barcode and have all of the item’s particulars automatically filled out for you.

Other nifty features of the eBay mobile phone app include:

• Buyer alerts - receive instant notification when someone watches or buys your item
• Sharing - share listing details with friends over email, Facebook or Twitter
• Messages - send and receive messages from other eBay users
• Daily deals - see the hottest time-limited deals
• Voice-enabled search - searching for a designer shoe bargain? Simply say “Jim E Choo” into your smartphone’s microphone.

Compare mobile phone deals.