Yahoo Plugs In Messenger Beta

A new beta of Yahoo Messenger 8 adds free plug-ins which enable users to share calendars, view friends' Amazon.com wishlists, compare contacts, monitor eBay listings, and more.

Not to be outdone by the launch of Microsoft Live Messenger, Yahoo has rolled out a new beta of its competing Yahoo Messenger 8 instant messaging and online collaboration tool. In addition to offering support for voice service, up to 1,000 contacts, and file transfers of up to a gigabyte in size, the Yahoo Messenger beta sports plug-ins which enable users to do things like track eBay auctions and compare contacts.

Like Yahoo Widgets, Messenger plug-ins are being built by both Yahoo and third-party developers via published APIs. Yahoo’s plug-ins are, understandably, aimed at enhancing Yahoo Messenger’s integration with other Yahoo Services (and, naturally, their associated advertising revenue). Messenger’s Yahoo Calendar plug-in enables Messenger users users to view each other’s calendars, search Yahoo Maps and Yahoo Local, and send appointment invitations through Yahoo Messenger rather than email; events can be coordinated through a Yahoo Event Finder plug-in; a Yahoo 360 plug-in lets users connect to other Messenger users’ photo albums and blogs; a Yahoo LAUNCHcast streams free music.

Third party plug-ins, of course, don’t necessarily tie as closely to Yahoo’s stable of Internet services. An eBay plug-in enables users to monitor eBay bids and item lists, as well as watch specific items and view successful bids. An Amazon.com plug-in enables users to see each other’s wish list, as well as the online retailer’s “what’s hot” and “what’s new” lists.

The beta of Yahoo Messenger 8 is free, and available for Windows.