The largest online classifieds business in the world, eBay Classifieds Group, is launching a challenge to build an app which facilitates local commerce via mobile, offering app developers the chance to win €12.5k as well as a potential job.
The challenge for European developers is to design an app that answers European needs, and thereby becomes their 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 is having 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 the iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android platforms as well as Mobile Web.