eBay has integrated its VoIP service Skype into its auction alerting system. Buyers and sellers can now get alerts about their eBay activities on their desktops through Skype instant messenger. eBay members could already choose to receive alerts through AOL Instant Messenger, MSN/Live Messenger, and Yahoo Instant Messenger.

The alerts let members know if they've been outbid on an auction, and sends Watched Item reminders - notices that an item users are monitoring is about to end.

eBay acquired Skype in the fall of 2005 and began allowing sellers to include Skype buttons in certain listings on the US site in June 2006. eBay continues to limit the categories in which sellers can include the buttons, which allow buyers to reach out to sellers through the Skype communications system.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200708010923162.html