E*Trade launches Yahoo IM display

Online brokerage E*Trade says it has launched a new interactive "environment" that lets Yahoo Messenger users access stock quotes and financial news. The new E*Trade Financial-branded IMVironment on Yahoo is an attempt to reach new messenger users by offering an ever-present interactive display on the popular Web portal. Yahoo Messenger IMVironments are applications sponsored by third parties that juice up one's instant messaging window with graphics and sometimes animation. Yahoo has an array of IMVironments with partners such as Sony PlayStation, Walt Disney and RadioShack.