EBay to acquire Skype
{{Lowercase}}
{{date|September 12, 2005}}
[[Image:EBay logo.png|right]]
[[Image:Skype logo.png|right]]
Online [[United States|US-based]] auction company [[eBay]], the world's largest online marketplace, agreed to buy [[w:VoIP|Voice-over-IP (VoIP)]] firm [[Skype]], the company providing the most popular internet telephony service, for $2.6 billion [[w:USD|USD]] in cash, stock, and rewards, and may pay a further $1.5 billion if the company's financial targets are met in 2007 and 2008.

Skype technology is to be introduced on eBay's website, allowing sellers to receive calls or leads from the sites users, for a fee.

It is the biggest [[w:acquisition|acquisition]] in eBay's history. The company hopes to diversify its profit sources and gain popularity in areas where Skype holds a strong position, such as [[China]], [[w:Eastern Europe|Eastern Europe]], and [[Brazil]].

EBay expects to cut 2006 earnings per share by $0.12 due to the acquisition.

== Previous related news ==
*[[EBay may acquire VoIP firm Skype]]

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2005-09-12T141439Z_01_FOR227652_RTRIDST_0_OUKIN-UK-SKYPE-EBAY.XML
|title=EBay paying up to $4 bln for Web phone firm Skype
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=September 12, 2005}}
<!-- Hint: If you are citing BBC News, leave the author blank and put "BBC News" in the "pub" parameter. -->

*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aES70I1omUVM&refer=us
|title=EBay to Buy Skype for $2.6 Bln to Enter Phone Market
|author=Chris Burritt
|pub=Bloomberg.com
|date=September 12, 2005}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:EBay]]
[[Category:Skype]]
[[Category:Computing]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]

[[de:EBay kauft Skype]]
[[es:EBay compra a Skype]]
[[fr:EBay rachète Skype]]
[[pl:EBay przejmuje Skype'a]]
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Online US-based auction company eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, agreed to buy Voice-over-IP (VoIP) firm Skype, the company providing the most popular internet telephony service, for $2.6 billion USD in cash, stock, and rewards, and may pay a further $1.5 billion if the company's financial targets are met in 2007 and 2008.

Skype technology is to be introduced on eBay's website, allowing sellers to receive calls or leads from the sites users, for a fee.

It is the biggest acquisition in eBay's history. The company hopes to diversify its profit sources and gain popularity in areas where Skype holds a strong position, such as China, Eastern Europe, and Brazil.

EBay expects to cut 2006 earnings per share by $0.12 due to the acquisition.

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