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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."

8 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. comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  3. 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?
  4. 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.
  5. Re:over $1000/user by MarkRose · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Be relentless!
  6. 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."

  7. 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.