Coinbase has launched its redesigned Android and iOS mobile apps, allowing users to instantly buy and sell bitcoin in 19 countries.

The California-based bitcoin services provider indicates that both apps have been rebuilt "from the ground up" on the latest versions of both platforms.

In addition to the updated buy and sell functionality, Coinbase users can request bitcoin from other users using a bitcoin address, email or QR code; shop with merchants who accept bitcoin; and access their full Coinbase account and transaction history.

Further, Coinbase indicated that the apps come with enhanced security features, including Touch ID support for iOS and enhanced PIN lock functionality.

Coinbase’s iOS app currently has a user rating of three-and-a-half stars, while it’s Android app has garnered a higher, four-star score.

The redesigned apps come amid a flurry of app activity from leading US bitcoin companies, including BitPay and Circle. BitPay yesterday launched a Windows version of its multisig wallet app Copay, while Circle added near-field communication (NFC) functionality to its Android app.

Users who log into the Coinbase app will first need to enter their Authy two-factor identification code, a feature no doubt familiar to desktop users.

From there, users are taken to a home screen that displays their wallet and vault balances. Select US customers may also be able to view their USD wallet balance, a new feature it rolled out to residents of 16 US states in December.

The wallet section displays the user's recent activity as well as their current balance in bitcoin and their local currency.

The Coinbase app is now available in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the US.

CoinDesk confirmed that buying and selling functionality was operational at press time.

Coinbase images via the Android and iOS App Stores