More Skype rumours...

I just read this article claiming that Ebay and Skype are currently in talks for Ebay to acquire Skype for 2-3 billion USD.
Excuse me while I rein in my scepticism on this one. Perhaps they are talking, but Ebay should not have to pay anything like that valuation.
The whole Skype valuation thing reminds me of the 3G spectrum auctions. People are confusing the business opportunities and the market with a specific company (or in the case of 3G, they confused the promise of delivery of data services to mobile devices with a specific piece of spectrum).
Now we see the potential of an Integrated Communications Platform and Presence, with the most successful example of the genre.
What exactly is the barrier to entry in this market? Paying $2 billion is not going to guarantee Ebay anything, other than an application that works.
If Ebay gave me $2 billion, I'd give them something a lot better than Skype in 6 months, and I don't believe Skype has any great 'stickiness' for their claimed 50 million users...Yet.

The thing is, I also read this announcement from Skype, which will allow content providers to get revenue from the Skype ecosystem. This is long overdue (and I suggested/predicted it a while back) though there are few details so I suspect it has been rushed out there.
The potential of this is huge, and it will drive Skype to new levels of acceptance if my guess is right.

Theoretically, any content provider can develop a service and get Skypers to call a Skype ID which is charged at a premium rate. The partnerships with TellMe and Voxeo are a little vague and could be highly restrictive, in one interpretation of the announcement. I'll choose the more optimistic interpretation and assume that this is really open.

Some applications/content that immediately spring to mind are:
- Help desks and information sheets (similar to Fax-back)
- Music/video (e.g. independent artist transfers personalised MP3 on receipt of call or IM)
- Podcasts/vidcasts
- Sex lines (of course!)
- Lottery/competitions
- TV/Reality show style voting
- Information on item being sold (for ebay)
- The usual crap you get (ably listed on the Skype announcement!)

I'm sure I don't have to spell out the implications of this for the telecom and media industry!?

September 8th is a big day for Skype, it just grew up (or at least announced its intention to do so...)