Online auctioneer eBay is to integrate Skype onto its website - and try and convince the world of the wisdom of its $2.6bn purchase.

The idea is to simplify communication between buyers and seller. Sellers will have the option of including a "Skype Me" button on the pages they set so bidders can call them using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Traditionally, eBayers have communicated by email, which stops sellers having to repeatedly answer the same questions as they are left on the site. Whether sellers will be as enthusiastic about getting phone calls remains to be seen.

This man is probably glad he wasn't stuck answering phone calls for the whole course of the auction.

eBay will test the service on some product categories before considering a general roll-out. The pilot will be free, although eBay has in the past said it will be able to charge people for making the calls.

More from the FT here. ®

Related stories

• Skype founder quits (1 October 2007)

  https://www.theregister.com/2007/10/01/ebay_skype_zennstrom_quits/

• eBay dials Google for 'click-to-call' advertising (29 August 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/08/29/ebay_google_skype/

• Consumer VoIP heads for prime time (13 July 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/07/13/consumer_voip_survey/

• eBay restores Nochex (13 July 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/07/13/ebay_oks_nochex/

• eBay.ie introduces 'Skype Me' function (28 June 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/06/28/ebay_launches_skypeme/

• Consumers to flock to VoIP (16 June 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/06/16/voip_research/

• Tiscali unveils VoIP service (16 June 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/06/16/tiscali_voip/

• Skype accused of patent infringement (9 June 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/06/09/net2phone_sues_skype/

• Skype to enable 100-way confusion (3 May 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/05/03/skype_beta/

• Skype blows $27m on VoIP firms (12 April 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/04/12/skype_buys/

• Skype hit with racketeering charges (28 March 2006)

  https://www.theregister.com/2006/03/28/steamcast_sues_skype/

• Google tests click-to-call (28 November 2005)

  https://www.theregister.com/2005/11/28/google_click_to_call/

• Meg Whitman's $2.6bn spam goof? (13 September 2005)

  https://www.theregister.com/2005/09/13/ebay_skype_spam/

• Ebay's plans for Skype (12 September 2005)

  https://www.theregister.com/2005/09/12/ebay_buys_skype/

• eBay buys Skype (12 September 2005)

  https://www.theregister.com/2005/09/12/ebay_bids_skype/