Auction giant eBay has introduced an iPhone app making it easier for shoppers to browse, buy and 'virtually try on' apparel items.
The giant US online auction house says the app is designed to deliver "a personalised shopping experience" to shoppers wherever they are, whenevr they wish.
The new app, downloadable for free from Apple's iTunes store, offers multiple features to help shoppers find the perfect look and discover their personal style including:
* A Personalised Closet allowing users to add, store and curate favorite fashion finds in one place.
* An Outfit Builder enabling users to mix and match items from their Closet and virtually try them on to create unique looks.
* Social Media Sharing functions enabling users to share favorite fashion finds via Facebook, Twitter, and email.
* Direct entry to the eBay 'Fashion Vault' offering instant access to new, fixed price clothing, shoes and accessories through exclusive, limited time discounts on designer brands so users never have to miss a sale.
* A Virtual Style Gallery showcasing the latest trends and fashions on the home screen in a slide show format. Users simply tap the picture of an item they like to search for similar items available on eBay’s Marketplace.
* A customised eBay account view from the fashion perspective through My eBay (Fashion), only displaying fashion listings to help users plan their wardrobe.
“With eBay’s Fashion app, we’ve created a unique shopping experience that consumers cannot get in front of a desktop computer, or even in a brick and mortar store,” said Steve Yankovich, VP of mobile platform, eBay.
“Shoppers can browse the millions of clothing items on eBay’s ‘racks’, build outfits to share with friends and even virtually ‘try on’ clothing without ever stepping inside a dressing room.”
Ebay says it has already had more than 10 million downloads of its core iPhone application, and expects the new tool to generate US$1.5 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV) through its mobile platform in 2010.
Its core iPhone application, which is available free via iTunes in eight languages and 190 countries, allows users to fully browse and buy without leaving the application. The eBay app for iPad debuted in the top 10 most downloaded free iPad apps in the iTunes Store and delivers a dramatically different shopping experience to browse and purchase the vast selection of products available on eBay.
The launch of the Fashion iPhone app complements enhancements eBay says it has recently made to its fashion category. In April, eBay debuted fashion.ebay.com, a new, enhanced shopping destination for clothing, shoes and accessories. New navigation and functionalities, including image similarity technology, at fashion.ebay.com enable shoppers to browse and explore more than 19 million average daily listings.