TOKYO : Japanese Internet portal Yahoo Japan Corp said Tuesday it would partner with eBay Inc of the US in online auction services to allow users of one service to bid for items listed on the other's site.

Yahoo Japan and eBay are setting up a Japanese-language website that allows users of the Japanese website to browse items exhibited on eBay.

By the end of March, Yahoo Japan's own site will allow its users to browse items shown on eBay sites and to bid for eBay-listed items intended primarily for the North American market.

Yahoo Japan will also allow items it exhibits to be shown on eBay's US site and allow US consumers to bid for these items.

"We are also considering allying with eBay in countries where eBay has a strong foothold, but we will study this once the US and Japanese business proves successful," company president Masahiro Inoue told reporters.

Yahoo Japan may consider a closer alliance, including a capital partnership, "should the need arise," he said.

- AFP/il