Christie's auction house on Wednesday launched an auction tool - Christie's Live - via its website, allowing users to not only watch its auctions but also bid on items remotely, in real time, reports CNET. The downloadable software is, for now, available for Microsoft Windows users; bidders must register for each auction two days before it begins.
The online bidding tool is available for auctions in Christie's New York and London salesrooms, but after six months it will be extended to other locations. Christie's operates in some 30 countries and has 16 salesrooms.
"It's just the impact of globalization. People are bidding more often from more locations to more locations," Andrew Foster, Christie's international director of operations and U.S. chief operating officer, is quoted as saying.
