Yahoo Messenger is surely a handy tool when it comes to online communication but the application tends to become the perfect utility for many other goals. Sarah Bacon, Product Manager at Yahoo, revealed another purpose of Yahoo Messenger which can be used as the main eBay bidding tool. Because I'm sure you've heard of eBay, let me explain how it works.

First of all, you have to register for an auction on the official page of eBay. Then, look for a special button called 'Watch This Item' with an IM link placed just under it. Click on IM and choose Yahoo Messenger. After the entire process is completed (which also demands your Yahoo Messenger ID), the service will automatically notice you when you are outbid. No matter whether you're connected to the instant messaging client or not, the messages are sent to you so you can read them once you go online. In addition, the feature will also send the traditional mail signed by eBay informing you that you were outbid.

This is quite an interesting feature because Yahoo Messenger is used by a lot of eBay bidders who want to track their auctions and bid for a certain product. Moreover, the instant messaging client powered by the Sunnyvale super giant is also compatible with some plugins which provide you almost the same features so you should really try them.

"Yahoo! Messenger 8.1 users can also get the free eBay plug-in. It sits in your Yahoo! Messenger window and gives you up-to-the-minute information on eBay items you're watching or that you've bid on. Plus it has a handy search tab so you can quickly find an item a friend might mention over IM," the Yahoo product manager wrote on the official blog of Yahoo Messenger.

If you want to download the latest version of Yahoo Messenger, you can take it from Softpedia.