Online real estate company Move Inc. has launched the Realtor.com real estate search application for Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 and Google’s Android.

These two new applications join the existing application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. The Realtor.com application for Windows Phone 7, designed by Move in partnership with Microsoft, is the first real estate search application available for the operating system.

“With the availability of the app on Windows Phone 7, the Realtor.com search experience is now available on three major mobile platforms, giving millions of consumers real time, anywhere access to the freshest and most accurate collection of property listings available on Realtor.com,” said Julie Reynolds, Westlake Village, CA-based spokeswoman for Move Inc.

“We believe this is a very powerful tool to have regardless of whether you’re actively searching for a home or just interested in monitoring the local market,” he said.

“We’re pleased to have worked with Microsoft on the first Windows Phone 7 real estate search app, and remain committed to placing the search power of Realtor.com into the hands of every consumer with a mobile device.”

Move Inc. claims that it gets 12.29 million monthly visitors to its online network of Web sites, including Move.com, a destination for information on new homes and rental listings, moving, home and garden and home finance.

The company also operates Realtor.com, the official Web site of the National Association of Realtors, Moving.com, SeniorHousingNet, Top Producer Systems and ListHub.

Mobile Commerce Daily’s Dan Butcher interviewed Ms. Reynolds. Here is what she had to say:

What is Move.com’s strategy behind the launch of the Realtor.com application for Android?
Move.com’s goal is to provide the millions of Android mobile phone users with one-touch access to the largest and freshest online collection of properties available for sale or rent in the United States on Realtor.com, the No. 1 homes-for-sale Web site.

With the new Realtor.com Real Estate Search Android app, home-buyers are empowered with faster, easier and more organized on-the-go search as they look for the ideal home in today’s competitive real estate market.

The feature-rich Realtor.com Android app delivers all of the highly popular search features offered by the Realtor.com iPhone app, the No. 1 most downloaded real estate search app, with more than 2.5 million downloads as of Nov. 2010, while adding several new features Android users will enjoy for a different platform.

Added features include a widget that continually surfaces and displays nearby properties on the Android’s landing screen, voice entry capabilities to save notes and Google Street View capabilities that give users a pictorial view of the immediate area surrounding a home before investing precious time.

As a result, Android users can:

• Find and get fresh and reliable details immediately on a property or open house within one to20 miles of their location

• Locate the property using the GPS feature and look at it via Google Street Views.

• Instantly connect with an agent to schedule a tour

• Dictate and save notes as they tour the home

• Alert family or friends about the property with the one-touch call or email features

What is the target demographic?
Move.com’s new Realtor.com Android application assists busy house-hunters and listing agents as they work together in search for the perfect home.

These users are already using Android phones or about to purchase one.

The application’s comprehensive suite of contact features allows buyers and agents to easily connect and remain synchronized throughout the search process.

Each Listing Detail Page includes one-touch features to ask questions, call or email an agent, request details, or visit their Web site, as well as to share listings with family, friends or an agent via email that includes an area for notes.

What challenges does Move.com address for its clients/partners?
Today’s buyers and listing agents know the importance of connecting with each other, and that communicating promptly at every stage of the search process is a critical aspect of successful property search.

By ensuring the Realtor.com Android application quickly surfaces fresh and reliable listing information, accompanied by multiple contact mechanisms, we believe buyers and agents will experience a more successful partnership in today’s competitive real estate market.

Having mobile access to the largest collection of property listings in the U.S., with approximately 75 percent being updated every 15 minutes, Android users searching for properties will be among the first to access price reductions and find new homes on the market in real time as they’re out searching the neighborhood.

How is mobile transforming the real estate business?
Mobile technology creates anytime and anywhere access for real estate agents to connect with their clients.

The Realtor.com iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7 mobile applications place the power of Realtor.com in the hands of millions of highly mobile consumers that depend on us to deliver the largest collection of properties with the freshest and most accurate information available on the market.

By combining our unmatched search power with the ability to instantly share listings, millions now have mobile access to a phenomenal property search experience superior to other apps already on the market.

Realtors and their clients appreciate the ease and convenience that our app brings to their experience as they work together to find the ideal property.

Final Take
RealtorDotCom