Zillow Launches iPhone Application

Effectively immediately, iPhone users can now download a free Zillow application for the Apple iPhone. I’ve been working with a pre-release version of the app over the past couple of days. I put it through its paces doing a search with my oldest daughter and her husband who will be relocating to Houston in the coming weeks. The recent addition of Houston area for sale listings really makes an afternoon drive to search for homes much more enjoyable and effective.  The app uses the GPS capability of the iPhone to pinpoint a user’s location and provide options for viewing:

• Zestimate Values on over 88 million U.S. homes.
• Over 3.3 million homes for sale along with details, photos and contact information
• “Make Me Move” Listings
• Recently Sold Listings

There is also the ability to do a direct search by address, neighborhood, zip or city if you’re not nearby.

When designing for a mobile device screen real estate is crucial. Zillow’s developers did a great job of creating an intuitive and simple navigation system. I am still using a first generation iPhone that’s powered by the edge network instead of the 3G network that became available with the 2nd generation release of the iPhone. I was pleasantly surprised at the speed, even in hybrid mode (listings superimposed over a satellite image of the street).

Zillow is among a growing group of forward thinking companies that realize that the iPhone and the iTunes directory have become an integral distribution point for content. Download the app and then come back here to let me know what you think of the Zillow application.