eBay Classifieds Group is launching a challenge to build an app which facilitates local commerce via mobile, offering app developers the chance to win €12,500 (£11,000), as well as a potential job.

The challenge for European developers is to design an app that answers European consumers’ needs, and thereby becomes a favourite on-the-go resource. It should enrich the user experience, keep them coming back, encourage them to participate, and be fun and easy to use. The app might answer questions such as “What stores and services can I discover near me?”; “Who has a special deal?”; “What is worth trying?”, “What did my friends try?”; and “What did you try?” Developers might also want to consider how social networking can be incorporated and subsequently managed.

The company, whose local brands include Gumtree and Mobile.de, expects to develop the concept for iOS and Android, as well as the mobile web. There’s more information about the competition here.