After releasing major updates to its apps on both Android and iOS back in May, eBay has just updated its apps yet again to introduce even more useful features. For Android users, this latest update brings along support for eBay’s new “One-Time Password” login method and also a full Android Wear application…
Let’s look first at Android Wear. While Android Wear users have always been able to access basic eBay functions on their devices, this new eBay app provides more details within Android Wear’s notifications stream. Users will be able to see the item’s title and price, an image of the item, and the remaining time on the listing. Along with that users will also be able to read and send messages between eBay members directly from the watch, enabling easy and quick replies.
“With our last update, we embraced Android’s material design standards, making our app more natural for Android devices,” said Nate Carrier, Senior Product Manager at eBay. “By introducing support for Android Wear, eBay is building on its commitment to the Android ecosystem and enabling a more seamless shopping experience across all types of devices.”
Along with the Android Wear app, the latest eBay update will also include support for eBay’s latest login method, “One Time Password.” This new optional login method removes the need to enter a password when signing into eBay on smartphones and on the web. To confirm your identity eBay will send a one-time SMS with a confirmation code to the users smartphone. Once that code is entered, users won’t need to login with their username and password again on that device. Alternatively, eBay has also added support for Touch ID on iOS, but no fingerprint support on Android.
“One Time Password and Touch ID Authentication eliminates the need to remember your password when you want access to the eBay Marketplace,” said Dave Comer, Senior Director, Identity and Member Communication Product Management at eBay. “We all use so many applications that require passwords and login information that it is impossible for users to remember them all. We want to eliminate the friction entirely.”
The update is rolling out now via Google Play.
