Amazon Launches Text-Message Shopping
In one of the better ways to synergize the web and the mobile, Amazon has launched TextBuyIt, which lets people text the name of a product, its description or its UPC or ISBN to 262966 (that’s ”Amazon” on the keypad) from anywhere their cell phones work - including from inside physical stores, says the New York Times.
If Amazon stocks matching items, the service returns two results at a time. Shoppers can immediately buy one of the first two the selections by texting back the number ”1” or ”2,” or they can ask for more by texting the letter ”M.”
New TextBuyIt customers will be prompted to enter the e-mail address associated with their existing Amazon account plus a shipping zip code. The service then calls them and walks through the checkout process using an automated voice system. Shoppers get confirmation by text message and e-mail.
From there, the customers can check on order status on Amazon’s Web site.
Apart from the obvious advantage of buying a product, expect a number of people to use the service to check prices on Amazon vis-a-vis the store they are in.
Filed under: Ideas & Innovations, Mobile