The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

eBay sniffing around Skype - report

VoIP service going, going...

eBay is holding talks with internet telephony outfit Skype concerning a possible deal, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Discussions are still at an early stage with insiders warning that they could end up amounting to nothing. Even so, both Internet companies are reportedly chatting in a deal that would value Skype at between $2bn and $3bn.

So, the big question is this: why would the massive online auction company want to buy a VoIP outfit?

According to the paper, it seems that eBay is aware that the online auction business is maturing and it's looking to develop new areas to generate revenues. eBay is also keen to add other services to its auction business that would help its punters communicate with one another.

Anyhow, no one from Skype was available for comment at the time of writing, while a PR from eBay responded to questioning with a straight bat.

"We don't comment on rumour and speculation," said the spokeswoman. ®

Free Download - The Reg Guide to Extended Validation

Don’t Miss

email symbolStill sending naked email? Get your protection here

Security How-to Buckle your seatbelt, encrypt your bits

Google's Satan phoneT-Mobile G1 Google Android-based smartphone

Review Operating System 1, Hardware 0

Ubuntu teaser Ubuntu 8.10 - All Hail new Network Manager

Review The good kind of UI theft

OpenOffice_logoOpenOffice 3.0 - the only option for masochistic Linux users

Review And linear optimizing Mactards