eBay has launched its open-platform service with the introduction of a number of third-party tools for U.S.-based sellers that are available through eBay's Selling Manager software. Sellers can view applications directly online, and will start to see an "Applications" tab in Selling Manager beginning this week.

Vzaar is a service for eBay and online sellers who wish to add a video component to their product listings, and is one of the first companies to develop for SM Apps. Vzaar spokesperson Jamie Parkins said in a podcast interview with AuctionBytes that it was not difficult to develop on the eBay platform. "For a website that is very old and obviously with a deep history of code set, it wasn't actually too bad. eBay effectively gave us an iFrame with set parameters in which to work." Parkins said eBay sellers will be able to add videos to their listings directly from eBay as a result of the new integration.

Among the tools available to sellers using eBay Selling Manager Applications are UPS WorldShip, which allows sellers to import their eBay order information into WorldShip and then automatically update their eBay orders with UPS tracking numbers, and eZ labelZ for eBay, which allows sellers to import item data and customer data to any label, flyer, card and also has barcoding capabilities.

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