As the next step in the continuing expansion of its online and mobile access strategy, leading global auction house Christie’s International, has come over all mobile web, delivering a service that makes its mobile offering available to anyone, anywhere in the world with a web-enabled mobile handset.
Using the service, mobile users can browse any Christie’s auction, anywhere in the world with a mobile phone. They can also search by category, location, or area of interest. For collectors, art dealers, and interior designers, Christie’s Mobile Web makes it easier to pull up images and information about artworks, antiques, and other collectibles and share them with a client or friend, right on the spot.
The mobile website also reports results direct from the saleroom and refreshes the sales total as it progresses, so that users have the latest news at their fingertips, as soon as the hammer falls. It also puts the latest sales catalogue at users’ fingertips, with detailed information about all 80 collecting categories that Christie’s represents, including fine and decorative arts and design, jewellery, antiquities, furniture, books, watches, wine, musical instruments, and more. Detailed information about every individual lot is accessible, including dimensions, estimates, provenance, and lot notes.
The services also allows users to submit Images for Appraisal. You take a picture of an object with your mobile phone or PDA and submit it to Christie’s department specialists for a property valuation. It also features tips on how to buy and sell at auction too.
The move builds on the launch last July of Christie’s free app for the iPhone and iTouch to now include the full universe of mobile devices and operating platforms, including the best-selling Android, Blackberry, Palm, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, and other popular models.
As with Christie’s free app for the iPhone and iTouch, the Mobile Web application was developed in partnership with Kargo, a leading independent mobile media and technology partner that specializes in producing breakthrough entertainment and information applications. To date, the Christie’s app for iPhone and iTouch has been downloaded by over 33,000 users from all corners of the globe.
“The launch of this expanded offering exponentially increases the number of people who can stay connected to their favorite Christie’s content, no matter where they might be,” says Michael O’Neal, Senior Vice President and Director of Digital Media at Christie’s. “We recognize that our clients are increasingly mobile and rely on their portable devices more than ever to browse Christie’s digital sales catalogues, track sales results, and submit items for appraisal. As a key component of Christie’s broader ‘on the go’ content distribution strategy, our platform-independent mobile experience is a key differentiator for our company and places us at the forefront of innovation in our industry,”
Christie’s Mobile Web is a comprehensive experience that delivers the company’s online content and services seamlessly to all mobile devices worldwide. To access it, type www.christies.com into the web browser on any HTML-enabled mobile phone – no downloading or app purchase is required. Users can find the most popular Christie’s content and services reproduced and optimized for mobile access, so that clients and visitors may enjoy virtually the same online experience whether they access the site from their laptop, mobile phone, or PDA.
