It looks like the rumours were true, and Skype will now be owned by eBay. Will this be a good thing? I don’t know yet…

eBay has confirmed that it will acquire the VoIP company Skype for $2.6billion in up-front cash and eBay stock.

The acquisition is the first for eBay outside its core auction market and shows that the company isn’t willing to sit back and watch other internet companies like Google and Microsoft surpass it on with intnernet functionality.

eBay is hoping that the combination of Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world.

“Communications is at the heart of ecommerce and community,” said Meg Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay. “By combining the two leading ecommerce franchises, eBay and PayPal, with the leader in Internet voice communications, we will create an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the Net.”

Related posts:

Send Paypal Via Skype Soon
Rumour: Google to Buy Skype?
Skype Gear Blog
eBay removes all “virtual property” auctions
Skype goes 3G with E-Plus

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