Vodafone has announced deals to bring eBay and MySpace to Vodafone handsets. Vodafone customers in Italy will be the first to benefit from access to eBay mobile, enabling them to keep track of their auctions via their phone. The eBay mobile application will be free to download on Vodafone live! and embedded on key customer Vodafone handsets to be released in the future. The service will be rolled out across Europe later this year.
eBay mobile will include the ability to search and browse items, find deals, bid on items and buy fixed price products. The application will help consumers track their eBay activity in real time on their phone and will also ensure their mobile and web activity is synchronized.
As we move closer to the convergence of web and mobile, it is essential that we can offer our customers, leading Internet-based services, such as eBay, in an easily accessible way says Vodafone Global Chief Marketing Officer, Frank H. Rvekamp. There is a strong demand from eBay users to benefit from a mobile application where they dont miss the end of auctions and bid back when they are outbid. Todays announcement offers just that and gives Vodafone customers a great service and a clear advantage allowing them to make the most of their time.
The second deal offers Vodafone customers a MySpace experience via their mobile phones. Launching initially in the UK, the partnership will enable Vodafone customers to access MySpace Mobile, allowing them to edit their own MySpace profiles, find and add friends, post photos and blogs, and send and receive MySpace messages on the move. It also enables consumers to keep in touch via mobile with their MySpace friends on the web. MySpace Mobile will be available for download from Vodafone live!, and pre-loaded on future, selected Vodafone handsets.
“This partnership brings together the worlds number one lifestyle portal and the worlds leading mobile operator,” says Colin Digiaro, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, International, MySpace. Millions of people use MySpace as their primary means of communicating with family and friends, so its vital we make this available on the move. Whether its adding new friends, sending messages, or uploading photos, the ability to access MySpace functionality from your mobile adds a new dimension to the experience.”