eBay launched a new free Half.com iPhone app and Buying Wizard to help students quickly find great deals on textbooks (and more fun stuff of course) heading into the school year. It’s the second eBay app to integrate barcode scanning technology and allows users to scan the barcodes on items to find the best deals on textbooks, DVDs, video games and more. The app provides Half.com buyers access to over 80 million active listings from more than 700,000 sellers.

Check out the following demo video to learn more:

Key features:
+ Popular item search by category available on the home screen – see what others are buying.
+ Speedy Checkout has payment and shipping information saved to complete the transaction quickly. Add a gift card or coupon code when checking out to save even more.
+ Social Media Sharing function enables users to share favorite deals via Facebook, Twitter, and ema

Half.com also introduced the “Buying Wizard”. Based on the user’s criteria for item condition and seller feedback, the Buying Wizard (currently in Beta) identifies the lowest cost items and shipping discounts (if applicable) to help shoppers get the best deals on Half.com.

With three easy steps the Buying Wizard will match users with the best deal:
+ Add Products – Users select the minimum criteria for item condition and seller feedback.
+ Find Deal Button – Buying Wizard will display the best deal for you, based on the criteria you selected.
+ Add to Cart – Move the items from Buying Wizard into your shopping cart to purchase.

UPDATE:
This is exactly the app I’ve been looking for. The integration of the barcode scanning technology into this and our existing Selling App could be the most significant to date for eBay’s mobile application efforts. It was why I was so fired up about the acquisition of Red Laser back in June. In addition to the Half.com and Selling Apps, I’m interested to see how long it takes to be included as a future upgrade to other existing eBay mobile applications. It could end up being a huge hit with both buyers and sellers on eBay too. Walking through a retail store and seeing an item you want – or want to sell – and being able to scan the barcode to see how much the item is being sold for online and elsewhere. Total price comparison shopping at your fingertips.

Bottom line, mobile applications have changed how people buy and sell online in just a matter of months and this latest development only adds to that evolution. Today: students… tomorrow: everyone. Looking forward to trying it out myself.

Cheers,
RBH