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eBay To Buy Skype For $2.6 Billion

Posted by Zonk on from the that's-a-lot-of-voice-communicating dept.

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."

18 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. Paypal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    1. Re:Paypal by knubile · · Score: 4, Funny

      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."

  2. Possibilities... by WillerZ · · Score: 1, Funny

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

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

    --
    I guess today is a passable day to die.
    1. Re:Possibilities... by Spacejock · · Score: 2, Funny

      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?

      --
      Hal Spacejock: Science Fiction with Nuts
    2. Re:Possibilities... by HawkinsD · · Score: 4, Funny
      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.

      --
      Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by mere idiocy.
  3. comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  4. Grrrrreat by Brento · · Score: 5, Funny

    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?"

    --
    What's your damage, Heather?
  5. Wow by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Funny
    Does this mean you'll be able to communicate with eBay and PayPal "customer service" by phone?

    Maybe not...

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  6. Re:At least... by c0l0 · · Score: 2, Funny

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

    --
    :%s/Open Source/Free Software/g

    YTARY!
  7. Skype by Trick+Kid · · Score: 2, Funny

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

  8. Re:over $1000/user by MarkRose · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Be relentless!
  9. Re:Here we go again by bloodredsun · · Score: 2, Funny

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

  10. Re:over $1000/user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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."

  11. Re:Skype is a dead-end. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    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!

  12. Re:Oh, get real. by jcr · · Score: 2, Funny

    LOL! I love it when the same post gets modded "insightful "and "troll" within five minutes!

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  13. Re:Skype is a dead-end. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

  14. Category by Proz512 · · Score: 2, Funny

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

  15. I almost had it for $2,599,999.00 by kokoloko · · Score: 2, Funny

    But E-bay got in at the last second.