After months of hints about its e-commerce ambitions, Twitter announced on Monday that it would begin publicly testing a “buy” button that can be embedded in posts to allow users to buy a product with a couple of clicks.
The feature, initially aimed at selling limited-edition or time-sensitive items such as T-shirts and event tickets, could eventually create a new revenue stream for the social network, which currently relies on advertising for virtually all of its income.
The test comes as competition in the world of mobile e-commerce intensifies. Apple is expected to unveil a new phone-based payment system on Tuesday as part of its latest update to the iPhone. And Facebook, Twitter’s biggest rival, began testing a “buy” button on its service in July.
Unlike Twitter’s e-commerce efforts with companies such as Amazon and American Express, this one will not require buyers to send a public message with a special hashtag to buy the product being offered. Instead, they will click on a “buy” button inside the Twitter message.
Courtesy New York Times
