Fairfax Digital has recently expanded its online real estate offering with the launch of their Domain iPhone application. The application allows users to access many of Domain's powerful home search options directly directly from their iPhone.
The app is sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank and complements recent push by Domain to increase the visibility of it's mobile offerings including
mobile and iPhone-ready mobile sites.
Providing mobile access to real estate classifieds is a positive in a market set to benefit most from mobile applications. The ability access listings easily whilst out and about hunting for a home is a great bonus.
Tech savvy inner city renters are going to love this handy app in their arsenal. With the well publicised effects of the rental crisis still being felt, having all the relevanty will be a boon for iPhone users.
It has all the key features that you would expect from the regular site such as searching, shortlisting with the added bonus of being able to easily call or email the agent/advertiser. A lot easier than wading through a large pile of printouts for an agent's number.
For a more thorough rundown of the features, check out the promotional video below, or download it for free directly from the app store.
REA's market leading site realestate.com.au, does not have a competing iPhone application, however it's easy to use mobile optomised mobile site is a happy, and in many ways superior, substitute.
Clicking on any realestate.com.au link on your mobile (perhaps from an email or tweet) will automatically direct you to the appropriate page on their mobile site. It is smart enough to picking up that you are accessing the site from your phone, and serve the appropriately formatted page.
Unfortunately Fairfax have ignored users of other smartphones, failing
to automatically direct mobile phone browsers to the mobile optomised site. Loading a standard Domain page on a mobile can be a frustrating experience. It just feels rather clumsy in comparison.
Domain currently lags behind REA's flagship with 11% and 39% market share of property websites respectively (source Hitwise).
