Amazon TextBuyIt Mobile Service Launches

By: Katie Cook
Staff Writer
Published: Apr 2, 2008

Amazon TextBuyIt users can find the suitable product and complete a purchase in under 1 minute using the new mobile service.

Amazon.com today launched Amazon TextBuyIt that actively allows mobile customers to shop, compare prices, and buy from its Web site virtually anywhere they are. Customers can use any mobile device, using either text messages or their mobile device's web browser.

"With today's launch of TextBuyIt, any Amazon.com customer can now use any mobile device to shop and buy from Amazon.com, at anytime, anywhere they are," said Howard Gefen, Director of Amazon Mobile Payments.

Amazon customers can find the suitable product they are looking for and complete a purchase in under 1 minute when using the new mobile service. Using the service is quite easy, simply send a text message to "AMAZON" (262966) with the name of the product, search term or a UPC or ISBN code, and, within seconds, Amazon replies with the product or products that match the search, along with prices.

To buy an item, customers simply reply to the text message by entering the unique single digit number adjoining the item they want. Customers will then receive a short phone call from Amazon with the final details of their order and asking them to confirm or cancel the purchase.

First time customers using TextBuyIt will be asked for their e-mail address and shipping ZIP code affiliated with their Amazon account. With this information, Amazon uses the default settings for the customer to obtain the payment method, shipping address and even 2-Day shipping for Amazon Prime members.

TextBuyIt is the latest in a series of mobile offerings for Amazon.com customers. The renowned company has been rapidly adding more shopping features in recent months. Customers use the exact same login, payment, and shipping information as they do on the PC.

Last fall, Amazon released a feature on their Web site that offers a customized look & feel for Apple iPhone users. When iPhone users enter the Amazon site, they will be taken to an interface which is optimized for the iPhone. The site is tailored to the iPhone's screen size, keyboard, and browser capabilities and is designed to let customers find and buy what they are looking for quickly and easily.