eBay on your cell

If you’re an eBay junkie but hate having to sit by the computer as the bidding comes to a close on that coveted tchotchke, we’ve got a new service for you. gNumber’s Unwired Buyer allows you to listen in on the bidding via your cell phone and up your bid as necessary. The base service is free. Update: After visiting the gNumber booth, I found out there is only a free service. How does gNumber make its money? Through the eBay affiliate program. For each transaction you win, they get a cut of the commission. The math works out pretty well for them. There are an average of four bidders per auction, meaning any given bidder has a 1 in 4 shot of winning. And, the average commission collected by gNumber is 50 cents, which is more than their cost per transaction. Also, the service works with any auction you’re watching or bidding on and will only call you in the last three minutes of the bidding.