• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, December 12, 2012

Marking its 150^th anniversary this year, renowned toy retailer FAO Schwarz has launched its first mobile app in partnership with eBay. The FAO Schwarz Gift Finder iPhone app allows users to get gift recommendations by selecting from criteria including product category, a child’s age range and gender, and price range.

Once an item is selected, users can make a purchase through the FAO Schwarz storefront after logging in with their eBay account information at checkout. Given that FAO Schwarz is owned by Toys “R” Us, one might have expected to the toy-selling giant to power m-commerce for the app instead of eBay.

But eBay has been at the forefront of mobile commerce, which expects to handle more than $10 billion in transaction volume this year through its mobile apps. With less than two weeks than two weeks until Christmas, though, FAO Schwarz and eBay are getting a bit of a late start in the season with the new app. But what’s a few days after 150 years.