EBay to add Skype phone sales link to auctions
Published June 14th, 2006
EBay Inc. plans to introduce its Skype Internet calling service in its online marketplace so that buyers and sellers can communicate by voice as well as e-mail.
The planned introduction of the additional phone capabilities, unveiled Tuesday at eBay’s annual user conference in Las Vegas, will span 14 categories of disparate products such as cars and trucks, diamond solitaire rings and “Lost in Space” collectibles.
The test, to start Monday, marks the first time that eBay is integrating Skype, a blockbuster acquisition from last year, into its popular U.S. marketplace. The addition is intended to bring more immediacy to the eBay shopping experience and boost sales as well as prices for certain products, particularly big ticket items.
“Skype can facilitate transactions on eBay, especially in higher-priced categories,” said Meg Whitman, eBay’s chief executive, during a speech at the eBay Live conference Tuesday night.
EBay bought Skype in October for $2.6 billion in cash and stock up front, plus future payments based on the unit’s performance. The service allows users to make free or cheap calls over the Internet from computers to anywhere in the world as well as engage in text-based chatting.
