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EBay Admits To Bad Call On Skype

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the fun-for-users dept.

MaineCoasts writes "The Times online reports that two years after buying Skype for 2.6 billion, Ebay yesterday warned shareholders that they may have made a mistake. In essence, they vastly overpaid for the company. ZDNet offers analysis of the announcement: 'Clearly, the current business model is not enough to satisfy eBay in light of how much the company spent on Skype. And the reason is simple. Even though Skype has done a very good job of getting users to download its software client, most people who use the service do so to make free Skype-to-Skype phone calls. The only way that Skype makes money from its subscribers is when people use its Skype-In or Skype-Out services. Skype-In allows users to pay to rent a phone number, which people on regular phones can call. Skype-Out allows users to call traditional phones or cell phones for a fee.'"

8 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. There's only one solution for Ebay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    SKYPE - 200 million+ users - Used, LIKE NEW! A++++ SELLER

    Buy It Now: $2,000,000,000
    Current Bid: $5.50

    1. Re:There's only one solution for Ebay by Billosaur · · Score: 5, Funny

      Congratulations, GoogleBuyer, you are the new high bidder!

      Current bid: $6.00

      Maximum bid: $10.00

      --
      GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
    2. Re:There's only one solution for Ebay by Laute · · Score: 5, Funny

      Reserve not met.

    3. Re:There's only one solution for Ebay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Auction cancelled. Google Checkout not accepted.

    4. Re:There's only one solution for Ebay by bitt3n · · Score: 5, Funny

      Reserve not met.
      Greetings, I am Prince Faruk from the UK. I am very interested in your auction and will pay US $3 Billion by money order for the Skype. Please send me back the extra $1 Billion plus the Skype promptly. It is a gift for my daughter in Nigeria, that is the reason why the address.
      --
      how many pairs of boxer shorts should you own?
  2. Re:Bubble by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hmmm... smells like the bubble could be collapsing.

    Look! A needle! :D

  3. Re:Call Me....No Skype Needed!!! by Nilych · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you really want your life to get more interesting, give us your husband's cell number.

  4. Re:Pretty obvious, wasn't it? by sukotto · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, it works great, except to talk to your in-laws? What an AMAZING coincidence! :-D

    --
    Come play free flash games on Kongregate!