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skype.com:
eBay to Acquire Skype — London, September 12, 2005 - eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY; www.ebay.com) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration.
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BBC:
eBay to buy Skype in $2.6bn deal — Online auction site eBay has agreed to buy internet telephone company Skype Technologies in a $2.6bn (£1.4bn) deal. — eBay said it would pay half the amount in cash and the other half in stocks to create "an unparalleled e-commerce and communications engine".
MarketWatch:
Ebay set to seal Skype deal for over $2.6bn — By Richard Waters in San Francisco and James Politi in New York — Ebay was in the final stages late on Sunday night of sealing an agreement to buy Skype, the fast-growing provider of voice calls over the internet, for more than $2.6bn, according to a person close to the situation.
Ross Mayfield / Ross Mayfield's Weblog:
The Simple Reason eBay bought Skype — In two hours, eBay is holding a conference call about buying Skype. I'm visiting the Skype guys in Tallinn a couple of hours later. Lot's of folks are scratching their heads. I have no inside information, nor really want it, but can offer …
Discussion:
The Doc Searls Weblog, The Stalwart, seanbonner, Susan Mernit's Blog, Threadwatch.org and Moore's Lore
Om Malik / Om Malik's Broadband Blog:
SkypeBay done for $4.1 Billion. — Update: So the deed is done - $4.1 billion. EBay will pay $1.3 billion in cash and $1.3 billion in stock for the online communications company. It will make a further payout of up to $1.5 billion if certain financial targets are met, Reuters reports.
Reuters:
eBay to buy Skype for $2.6 billion in cash, stock — eBay has agreed to buy the fast-growing Internet start-up Skype in a move to add free Web telephone calls to its online auctions and fuel growth, the companies confirmed Monday. — The auctioneer said it plans to pay $1.3 billion in cash …
Mark Evans:
Wow! eBay is Really Buying Skype — No other way to describe it but as stunning as the rumours about eBay Inc. acquiring Skype turned out to be true. For a cool $2.6-billion in cash and additional payments based on future performance (which could apparently boost the deal to US$4.1-billion) …
Jeff / The Jeff Pulver Blog:
End of an Era? eBay to purchase Skype — So it turns out that the rumors late last week were true. eBay is going to purchase Skype. — But one thing the folks at eBay forgot about, is that while money can buy many things, as the Beatles once said, "Money can't buy you love."
Discussion:
Roland Tanglao's Weblog
James Enck / EuroTelcoblog:
Niklas and Meg 4-ever — It's official, and I have to admit to feeling more than a bit crestfallen. Tracking the rise of Skype was one of my principal reasons for initiating the email blasts which evolved into this bloglet, and now it's going to be part of something bigger, but hopefully equally interesting.
Jeff Clavier / Software Only:
Skype + eBay = Deal! $1.3B cash + $1.3 stock + $1.5 earn-out = $4.1B! — Reuters' Eric Auchard has just reported that eBay has made a run after Skype after all, and has put a consideration that would total $4.1B if earn-out conditions are met. — This is a massive deal …
Rob Hof / TechBeat:Here Comes the eBay Announcement...
Discussion:
The Doc Searls Weblog, ben barren, PaidContent.org, MocoNews.net, Threadwatch.org and OpsanBlog
Ars Technica:
Opening the package — The out-of-box experience was nothing less than expected from Apple: excessive, high-end, and oh-so-delightful. When purchasing our 2GB black iPod nano for this review, it even came in a "commemorative" iPod nano bag. — Opening the slim nano box was pretty …
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Clive Thompson / Wired News:
The Video-Game Novel Also Rises — Here are some details about Sam Fisher you probably didn't know: He's 47 years old, and his hottie martial-arts instructor has a major crush on him. He lives alone in a condo and struggles to figure out how to deal with his college-age daughter.
Discussion:
Kotaku