eBay considering to sell Skype

Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 @ 19:07 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck

A couple of years ago eBay bought Skype for $3.1 billion in an attempt to improve the communication between eBay users but the acquisition didn't turn out as glamorous as the auction giant anticipated.

eBay admitted yesterday that it still hasn't found a way to make the VoIP service aid its core business and says it's considering to sell Skype if the synergies don't work out by the end of the year:

EBay's Chief Executive John Donahoe was quoted in an FT interview as saying: "If the synergies are strong, we'll keep it in our portfolio. If not, we'll reassess it."

The company had intended for the Skype acquisition to bolster its online business through call-billing payment tie-ins between Skype and eBay's PayPal online payments service, but Skype did not live up to expectations.

Donahue brushed aside speculation that eBay should also consider selling its PayPal service to prop up its stock value, the FT reported.

About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.

Loading Comments

Share this story!