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PayPal Announces Intent To IPO

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the get-while-it's-good dept.

seek31337 was the first to write to us with the word-direct-from-the-mouth that PayPal has announced its intention to IPO. Not much other details, but interesting nonetheless.

10 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Never really understood... by dmarcov · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It always amazes me how investors seem interested in tiny little companies that have a neat idea, but if it ever really takes off could be entirely duplicated by a larger, more well known company, do it all for "free" (ie: ads, having an account, whatever) and not even look back twice at the dark smudge they just ran over.

    1. Re:Never really understood... by Apache · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The ironic thing is that patents are supposed to prevent this kind of thing, but when a software company patents anything the whole net community screams bloody murder.

      Duh.

  2. PayPal isn't your average Dot-Com by Desus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Far from being your average "no value, pointless" dot com, PayPal serves a purpose to users of On-line auctions. I remember the days of yore when I had to walk about 20 miles ;) to go buy a money order because nobody wants to accept a check on-line (are u serious? Do u know what kind of people use the net LOL)
    Paypal takes all the extra steps out of this process and to those who's tech skills aren't enough for them to wade through Billpoints sign-up process, PayPal is the DE FACTO online payment service. Just do a quick check on eBAY for the number of auctions that only accept payment through paypal.
    Good luck with this IPO. I'll buy some shares.

  3. WTF? paypal is a bank. by perdida · · Score: 4, Insightful

    PayPal provides services like a bank, and can operate offshore accounts and stuff (all you need is a credit card and a paypal account in Moscow or wherever you are) and should be regulated like a bank before it goes all IPOing on our ass.

    see here.

    we need to figure out what kind of business it is before we buy shares of it.

    --
    Goat sex free since 2001
  4. Re:Prepare to Have Your Personal Information Sold by ActMatrix · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I can't stand when Slashdotters jump aboard the "Ooh evil company is going to somehow screw over its customers" bandwagon with little or no factual evidence. PayPal is used to pay for over 1/4 - 1/3 of Ebay transactions. They process billions upon billions of dollars, and are taking a small cut each time. That's a sound business model to me. They've got strong brand loyalty, and as long as services like Ebay continue to exist they will do just fine. Bankrupt in a few months? I don't think so

    And no, I don't work for them so don't bother with that accusation.

  5. Re:One thought... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Isn't this an awful time to have an IPO?

    That depends on what you're selling. If you're still trying to be the premiere online provider of stinky fish in a jar, then yes. But if you're PayPal, you're profitable, and you have a legitimate claim to being a future player in ecommerce, well, no.

  6. The fine print.. by Sheyala · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Have you ever read the details about your account? I did, because I wanted to know if they made any kind of statement garunteeing that my money will stay mine.

    They dont.

  7. Yahoo! should buy them by Brian+Stretch · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yahoo! should buy PayPal and integrate it into their Yahoo! Store and Auctions infrastructure. Their existing PayDirect service was too late getting into the game, ditch it and convert its users to PayPal. The cut the credit card companies normally get for Store purchases could flow to Yahoo! when payments are made from a cash-positive PayPal account. The additional users from Yahoo!'s existing services plus advertising would be a big boost to PayPal. And no need for an incredibly poorly timed IPO. Win-win situation.

    Credit my consulting fee to my PayPal account, please ;-).

  8. Bad news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only reason a company would IPO in this environment is they can't get cash any other way.

  9. I'd invest by nilstar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is the only, and I mean only .com-ish type company I'd ever invest in.... because c'mon folks, they are a market leader of a required infrastructure type website/system that the internet needs.... where would ebay be without this?

    --
    ===> An eye for an eye makes everyone blind - MG