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Ebay Rumored to be Buying Skype

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-thats-a-really-strange-marriage dept.

JDStone writes "Rumor has it that trusted sources from The Wall Street Journal say Ebay is interested in buying Skype. Later after the announcment, Ebay Inc. shares fell 4.3 percent."

6 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. What does EBay want with VOIP by Suburbanpride · · Score: 3, Interesting

    from the article:
    "Whenever a company may do something that's completely different than its historical focus, there is risk,'"
    My qyestion is, what would ebay want with VIOP? Paypal and Half.com made sense for ebay to pick up, but I'm just not seeing this at all...

    --
    sorry 'bout the mess...
  2. Skype wont sell by dep01 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Skype already turned down a billion dollar deal from another company. They're holding on to it.. I'm sure they wont sell to eBay.

    --
    "hey, could you pass me a paper towel? er.. I mean... DEPLOY ABSORBTION PANEL!"
  3. Please, no American buyers! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    One of the nice things about Skype is the strong encryption. The American government is considering legislation to require backdoors in internet telephony. I've lost the link but I saw an interview with the CEO of Skype, asking how they would respond...the CEO simply said that as a company in Luxembourg, he was perfectly free to ignore American legislation, and intended to do so. EBay wouldn't have the same freedom.

  4. Re:Why? by nametaken · · Score: 4, Interesting


    Its not uncommon for a company with cash in the bank to buy up unrelated companies to diversify its holdings. Its much like an individual buying a mutual fund, you don't put all your eggs in one basket. Companies like Microsoft do this all the time. They've bought all kinds of seemingly unrelated companies.

    Additionally, it could provide a near-turnkey solution for better buyer/seller communication, which could be cool.

    From a number of persepectives, it could happen. It just doesn't look like the market approves right now.

  5. I'm worried by kartan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Anyone else worried that Skype, if owned by Ebay, would be more likely to bend to the FCC's demands to allow federal wiretapping?

    Typically big American corporations like Ebay play ball with the government, and one of Skype's most attractive features (IMO) is that they don't allow wiretapping (the data is encrypted end-to-end).

  6. Re:Google + Skype = by sapgau · · Score: 3, Interesting

    google advertising during my phone conversations is terrifying.

    Reminds me of when eating at a local "mercado" in Mexico. While you eat several people will try to sell you something(sungalses, garlic, cheap jewelery, T-Shirt from your favorite soccer team, etc...).

    The food is great but when your're finished you just want to get away from all that spam! :-p