E*Trade Financial and Yahoo! have launched a co-branded instant-messaging channel to deliver financial news and information to users of Yahoo! Messenger.
Yahoo! Messenger users can select and download the E*Trade Financial-branded IMVironment to access free 20-minute delayed stock quotes and up-to-date financial news and information, while exchanging real-time instant messages with friends, family and colleagues. Users can also easily navigate to and through the new E*Trade Financial Web site.
The new E*Trade Financial-branded Yahoo! Messenger IMVironment features daily video and audio clips focused on current financial topics and market updates. Exclusive to this IMVironment, E*Trade Financial features an originally produced video segment called 'IM the Money,' incorporating a daily collection of correspondent interviews with consumers on financial market trends and sentiments.
Yahoo! Messenger users can also access special offers, locate E*Trade Financial ATMs, and view a list of E*Trade Financial Centres and Zone locations in pop-up windows launched from the IMVironment.
Pam Kramer, chief content development officer, E*Trade Group, says: "The Gartner Group estimates that by 2005, instant messaging will surpass e-mail as the primary method of communication, and E*Trade Financial is now well positioned to capture a large share of that market with the launch of this new product."