#24: eBay frees up its APIs

by on November 14, 2005

We’re in the middle of a new war for getting developer’s attention. Any API that tries to limit developers, or charge for its use, is just going to have slower growth than ones that are freely available.

 eBay got that today and launched a developer challenge.

  • Ron M.
    Heh.. the conflict between open/closed APIs sounds a lot like the conflict between open/closed source.
  • anon
    "You could win $5,000, or many other great prizes. ". Cheap, cheap, cheap.
  • huge amounts of DATA + great API's ='s successful strategy.

    For leading internet companies freeing large amounts of data and inciting development seem to be the corner stones for success. Closed API's? That seems like an obstacle in the way of developers...that sounds like something that will only hold you back.

    DION made a nice post about Amazon doing similar things here:

    http://web2.wsj2.com/microsoft_gets_disrupted.htm

    The long tail no longer applies to products, it now applies to services. I wrote a lenth piece about that here:

    http://michaelmcderment.com/article/Web2Chronic...
  • Greetings,
    Yeah, my users emailed me about this one today; it's amazing how my users can keep me more on top of the news than almost any other news source.

    But seriously...Wow. eBay's API is backed to a VERY rich data store, and the potential applications (and not just for direct commerce) are amazing. They also upped their call limits to 1.5 Million/day instead of per month, which it used to be. (Yes, there are still call limits, which is understandable.)

    The one API they haven't opened up is bidding, and if you use the API, they forbid scraping, so you still can't write an app that bids (which mine does).

    It's a great move, no qualifications.
  • it's also true that such "developer challenge" is cheaper than extending company's software development team
  • Ro
    Morgan,

    eBay actually does offer an API call for placing bids remotely on the eBay site (it's used for wireless and off-Internet apps). There is, however, a legal addendum with it, given the sensitivity around its use. Ping me if you want to take a look.
  • Here's a new eBay / Google Maps mashup, just released:

    http://www.auctionsearchkit.co.uk

    It combines an eBay search engine and Google Maps to provide a visual result to your search for eBay items. Ideal if you are a pictures person.
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