Amazon.com Launches TextBuyIt Service

Seattle Amazon.com has launched a new service, Amazon TextBuyIt, which allows customers to use text messages to find and buy products sold on the site.

Customers send a text message to the numbers that coincide with “AMAZON,” along with the name of the product, search term or a UPC or ISBN code. Amazon then replies with the product or products that match the search, along with prices.

To buy an item, customers reply to the text message by entering the unique single-digit number next to the item they want.

Customers then receive a short phone call from Amazon to confirm or cancel the purchase.