Yahoo! Adds Auctions

In what marks the latest addition to its growing list of new services for users, Yahoo! Inc. today unveiled Yahoo! Auctions, a free online buying and selling service.

The portal said it teamed up with auction operator ONSALE, Inc. to provide items in more than 2,000 different categories for users to browse, bid or buy. Categories include toys and games; arts and entertainment; antiques and collectibles; computers and software; and electronics. A charity auction is also featured.

In addition, Yahoo! made an agreement with fine art auctioneers and appraisers Butterfield & Butterfield for rare collectibles. Financial details were not disclosed.

Yahoo! Auctions is the latest service from the portal which recently announced calendar, club and e-mail applications for its users. Fellow community site Excite already features auctions as part of its classified listings.

"As part of Yahoo!'s ongoing commitment to foster online shopping, Yahoo! Auctions offers an interactive and virtual auction place where people can purchase or sell merchandise, including collectibles, antiques, memorabilia, and general items," said Tim Brady, executive producer and vice president of production, Yahoo! Inc.

"Yahoo! Auctions is a person-to-person marketplace providing consumers, from collectors to general Web users, an ideal forum to conduct personalized transactions and an effective way to continue building a thriving community on the Web," he added.