Christie’s hunts for new clients via iPhone

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With art sales declining around the world, the major auction houses are desperately looking for new customers anywhere they can. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that Christie’s is tapping into the ever-growing universe of iPhone apps.

Today, Christie’s announced a new iPhone application that allows users to browse more than 450 auctions in close to 80 categories in such areas as fine arts, jewelry, photographs and wine.

The application offers images of items up for bid and lets users submit objects for appraisal by Christie’s specialists using the iPhone’s camera.

The application can display real-time auction results but doesn’t yet offer the ability for users to place bids. The auction house does offer online bidding via its website.

‘We hope to attract new clients but the goal is also to provide a convenient tool for current clients, should they be open to the technology,’ said Michael O’Neal, Christie’s director of digital media.

Christie’s is offering the application for free to iPhone and iPod Touch users. It can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes store (you need to have iTunes on your computer for this link to work).

-- David Ng