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.
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