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Probably Ebay doesn't know but there is a very good auction site - its called EBAY - they should stick SKYPE on auction there

I wonder if in the history of the world anyone has ever used those Skype links on ebay to contact a seller. It was always a doomed acquisition, everyone said so at the time and here we are today. I also don't see this as a fit with Apple who are doing very well feeding on a cut of subscriptions with their mobile network partners hence a crippled Skype in the iPhone which works only over wi-fi and not 3G.

I don't see a fit here with Apple at all, especially not when Apple already has it's own internet phone software already and are more likely to build on that then try to integrate Skype. Apple never buys-in, they always build themselves or buy very early, they would never consider a purchase like this.

Google, Microsoft and Yahoo also already has their own software integrated into their own platforms. While the existing use base might look desirable, getting that user base to migrate to some merged/integrated product would be tricky, especially when many user would prefer a different platform.

No, I think the standalone route is the best solution for Skype as a product and service, which would enable it to continue to operate across all platforms and keep that user base intact.

Now, what would be cool is if the buyer opened up the Skype protocol and network, it would become the de-facto standard overnight and we could converge on a common platform for calling services and not have to have 3 or 4 different clients and contact lists to keep up with all our contacts. Think of how useless the telephone system would be if it worked like internet calling currently does. Shame the big players (MS especially) would never let that happen, there's too much self-interest in retaining their walled gardens.

Google already have their own form of 'Skype'. So it would be no use to them.

Skype works really well. I certainly don't want to be forced to buy an Apple anything as that will cause far too much techno change in my work and travel kit to make it evenly remotely interesting.

Google, Microsoft and Yahoo all have their own versions of Skype, true.

But skype actually has users.

I hope with all my heart that apple stays away, although if they did go for skype it would open the door for others.

If itunes for windows is anything to go by apple would ruin skype.

#2

I live in China where ebay got it's rear end whooped by another site, taobao, a few years ago.

One of the main cores of taobao's success is that you can chat to almost all of the sellers live inside the website. I find it strange that nobody has tried to contact me on ebay via skype.

Skype is a fantastic product and is the future. It is also a major driver in increased broadband speeds. Once they get an online video "conference call" sorted out I can see it making inroads into air travel as well.
If Apple got hold of it, I think they will kill it!
Either by "burying" it or by converting it so that you have to buy some piece of Apple hardware to use it and it will end up like I-tunes in comparison to MP3

How about Cisco? I'm not sure they have it in the budget for another big acquisition, but they certainly have a taste for technology that puts them in front of more consumers.

Skype would work better if they took the Skype packaging away.

Realistically, Skype should be an embedded application that can be used on most (if not all if Internet Explorer is capable of playing game for once) browsers and would also be a very welcome addition to the new generation of game consoles, mobile phones and media centre's.

Skype is the perfect fit for the Internet, the problem is how it is distributed.