Rumor: eBay Selling Skype (to Google?!)

Our folks in the UK pointed me to this article in the Guardian that suggests that eBay is quietly shopping Skype.

I have no idea if this is true or not, but you could see both sides of the story:

1. No way - it would be incredibly hard to backtrack on Skype after making such a big deal about it (even with the earn-out/write-down adjustments).  Plus, heck it's one of the fastest growing parts of eBay now.

2. yes way - eBay could have found that running this startup VOIP company that's based out of the EU and not core has become just too much of a distraction from the day to day core business of selling stuff.

If you had a clean slate, it would make a lot more sense strategically for Skype to live with Google, it could be part of their new gPhone strategy, bring click-to-call to the masses, etc. within eBay Skype is being somewhat squandered and not realizing its full potential.

Readers what do you think: "no way" or "yes way"?

Comments

[Anthony]

Skype for sale? $1NR, or Buy It Now with Best Offer? The sooner it's gone, the better - perhaps we are seeing a true re-focus on the core business.