Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite Mack Wolford believed faith compelled him to face the risk »

EBay to Unload Skype for $2B

Private investors bring end to auction site's troubled ownership

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 1, 2009 5:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – EBay is selling Skype, the audiovisual chat service it calamitously bought in 2005, to a group of private investors, sources tell the New York Times. Although the price is unknown, eBay recently said it wanted about $2 billion for the the company, which is expected... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

There are no comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Miami Face-Eater Identified

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Technology • Money

private equity • Google • eBay • Skype • IP telephony • technology companies • Marc Andreessen

More Newser Stories

Skype Sale in Doubt as Founders Sue eBay

Techies alleges copyright violation costing them $75M a day

(NEWSER) - The founders of Skype are suing eBay and the investor consortium buying the Internet phone company, accusing them of copyright violation, reports the Wall Street Journal. The suit is only the latest bump in eBay's disastrous ownership of Skype and may complicate the planned $2 billion sale. Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom allege that their new company, Joltid, owns a peer-to-peer technology that is also used in Skype's software and claims it is suffering damages "of more than $75 million daily." More»

Skype Launches $9.95 Plan for Unlimited Foreign Calls

Flat rate covers calls to 34 countries

(NEWSER) - Internet calling system Skype is introducing a plan for unlimited overseas phone calls for $9.95 a month, CNET reports. The plan includes 34 European and Far Eastern countries, along with Australia and New Zealand—but the deal is limited to landlines except for calls to cell phones in Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The plan also includes unlimited domestic calls in the US. More»

PayPal Sues Google, Says It Stole Trade Secrets

Goes after 'Google Wallet' mobile system

(NEWSER) - EBay and its PayPal subsidiary have filed a lawsuit accusing Google of stealing its trade secrets in the creation of its Google Wallet product . The suit names two executives—Osama Bedier and Stephanie Tilenius—who jumped ship to Google after long stints working at PayPal and eBay respectively, Reuters reports. It accuses Bedier of “misappropriating trade secrets,” and says that before leaving the company, he transferred documents related to PayPal’s mobile payment strategy to his personal computer. More»

Facebook Considering Buying Skype

Meanwhile, Google holds talks with Skype for joint venture

(NEWSER) - Skype is suddenly the prettiest girl in school now that it’s pushed back its IPO. Google is in talks for a joint venture with the online calling company, and Facebook is considering buying it outright, sources tell Reuters . Skype is expected to rake in about $1 billion if it goes public, but Facebook could pay $3 billion to $4 billion for the company, according to someone with “direct knowledge of the discussions.” More»

Google Voice Launches Number Porting

Users now allowed to move cell numbers to service

(AP) - Google's Voice calling application is adding a long-promised feature: the ability to move a phone number from a cell phone to Google's service. Previously, Google Voice assigned each user a new number,making it more difficult to take advantage of its features, which include cheaper international calls and the ability to answer calls on several different phones and computers. Google says users can now request "porting" for a fee of $20, a service not offered by leading competitor Skype. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

EBay to Unload Skype for $2B

Private investors bring end to auction site's troubled ownership

private equity • Google • eBay • Skype • IP telephony • technology companies • Marc Andreessen

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Skype Sale in Doubt as Founders Sue eBay

Techies alleges copyright violation costing them $75M a day

Skype Launches $9.95 Plan for Unlimited Foreign Calls

Flat rate covers calls to 34 countries

PayPal Sues Google, Says It Stole Trade Secrets

Goes after 'Google Wallet' mobile system

Facebook Considering Buying Skype

Meanwhile, Google holds talks with Skype for joint venture

Google Voice Launches Number Porting

Users now allowed to move cell numbers to service

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?