It’s done!
Om Malik reported late last night that reporters have been told EBay will be hosting a 5 AM PST conference call to cover an announcement from two hours earlier. MarketWatch at 5 AM this morning posted a story with this quote from Meg Whitman:
eBay said the Skype service would be integrated into its ecommerce business, greasing the wheels of its online marketplace by making it easier for buyers and sellers to communicate. Meg Whitman, eBay’s chief executive officer, said that communications was "at the heart of ecommerce and community," and that the acquisition would create "an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the net."
According to MarketWatch, the price is $2.6 billion (50/50 cash and shares) with $1.5 billion in additional performance related benefits as an "earn out" to Skype shareholders.
-
The Times Online: EBay Buys Skype for $2.6 Billion
-
Reuters: EBay to Buy Skype for $4.1 Billion
Look for more news around 8 AM when the con call happens.
Alec Saunders is the Vice President of Developer Relations for BlackBerry make Research in Motion. This is his personal blog, with his personal viewpoints. Prior to this Alec was the CEO and co-founder of Calliflower — the easiest way to hold a meeting, online, on a conference call, or on the go. A double-decade veteran of product management and marketing, he spent nine years at Microsoft where he helped launch Windows 95, the first two versions of Internet Explorer, the Universal Plug and Play initiative, the push into home markets, opt-in email marketing and what might well go down in history as the very first direct email list ever.
