eBay To Buy Skype For $2.6 Billion

rfunches writes "It's not a rumour anymore. BBC News online reports that eBay will pay 'half the amount in cash and the other half in stocks to create an unparalleled e-commerce and communications engine'." The $2.6 billion purchase would give eBay access to the VoIP market, of which Skype claims it has 2 million users online at any given time. BBC speculates that eBay will use Skype to allow sellers and bidders to communicate via voice; I have also heard that live auctions a la Sothebys might also be a possibility. Also reported at Wall Street Journal (registration), New York Times."

Paypal

[Anonymous Coward]

Skype is in for a little surprise if eBay pays with Paypal. Whoops, your account is locked, sorry.

Possibilities...

[WillerZ]

I have also heard that live auctions a la Sothebys might also be a possibility.

Well, there's a definitive statement for you....

comments

[Anonymous Coward]

A+++++!1111111 would tlak with agin

Grrrrreat

[Brento]

Great, so now instead of people emailing me about my Ebay auctions, they can call me at any time and ask, "How does that there Tivo thing work anyway? Can I watch HBO if I don't have cable? Can you explain it to me?"

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[account_deleted]

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Re:At least...

[c0l0]

Except for the obligatory dupe of this one, of course! ;-)

Skype

[Trick Kid]

Clearly eBay should be made to bid for it ;-)

Re:Possibilities...

[Spacejock]

I can just imagine it: Hundreds of toffs winking and waving hankies at microphones as they try to bid on a piece of art they can't see.

I thought we'd got over the dotcom madness?

Re:over $1000/user

[MarkRose]

You must be new to the Internet -- that doesn't matter.

Re:Here we go again

[bloodredsun]

but at least they're paying with a telephone number(2-600-000-000)!

Re:over $1000/user

[Anonymous Coward]

It's quite simple:

1 ringy-dingy
2 ringy-dingy
"Hello, this is eBay calling to tell you about some fantastic purchasing opportunities available exclusively to our Skype customers.

"Yes, sir, I understand that you're eating dinner. No, sir, we do not have a no-call list, as we are not governed by-

"Now, sir, there's no need to be rude. I'll let you get back to dinner.

"... and call you back in five minutes. Every five minutes. Until you die."

Re:Skype is a dead-end.

[Anonymous Coward]

Skype and Ebay can do whatever they want. People will still use skype. Heck, I'll use Skype, just because you're complaining about it!

Re:Possibilities...

[HawkinsD]

Live auctions? Over the phone? And not just over the phone, but over a cheese-laden peer-to-peer VOIP lash-up?

For things worth actual money?

I bid grgle-snrt I bid zzzzffff No, I bid kkkppp No first f-f-f-f-first! twenty eeeehooonnnggg but wait a wawawa twenty-eight pork

Great idea, boys.

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[account_deleted]

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Re:Skype is a dead-end.

[Anonymous Coward]

You can't think of alternatives? Then it obviously is the worst one ever created. Ok... the same logic suggests it is also the best one ever created.

Re:Paypal

[knubile]

If Pizza Hut has fighter jets, just imagine the delivery coverage they would have. "Two large pizzas to alasksa. That'll be 45 minutes or its free."

Category

[Proz512]

I wonder what category the auction for Skype was under. I couldn't find the Overbloated Corporate Buyout category.

I almost had it for $2,599,999.00

[kokoloko]

But E-bay got in at the last second.