EBay Skype to sell stake in Skype for $1.9 billion in cash

April 15th, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO - Online auction house eBay said Tuesday that it plans to spin off its online telephony business Skype via an initial public offering by the middle of next year. The announcement was seen as an admission by the auction powerhouse that its $2.6-billion purchase of Skype in 2005 had not worked out as expected.

September 1st, 2009 EBay to sell part of telecom service Skype for $2BNEW YORK — EBay Inc. is trading control of the online telecommunications service Skype for about $2 billion, reversing a 2005 acquisition that many analysts considered a head scratcher from the beginning.

July 31st, 2009 EBay working on alternative software for SkypeSAN FRANCISCO — EBay Inc. is developing software it might use to continue running the online telecommunications service Skype if it cannot resolve a legal dispute with a separate company run by the service's founders.

April 11th, 2009 Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who sold Skype to eBay four years ago for $2.6 billion, wants to buy them back. Yeah, weird may it sound but that is what is buzzing around in the technology world right now.

September 16th, 2009 Skype founders file lawsuit against eBaySAN FRANCISCO — A company owned by the founders of Skype has filed a copyright infringement suit against the Internet phone service and parent eBay Inc. — an action that could crimp eBay's plans to sell Skype for about $2 billion to a group of private investors.

September 1st, 2009 EBay partially undoes Skype deal, selling majoritySAN FRANCISCO — Rather than enduring the uncertainty of spinning off the Skype telecommunications service through a public stock offering, eBay Inc. has found a different way out: It is selling the majority of Skype for about $2 billion to a group of private investors.

July 22nd, 2009 Economy keeps hurting eBay as 2Q profit fallsSAN FRANCISCO — The recession continued to hurt eBay Inc. in the second quarter, as earnings and revenue fell amid a sales decline in the main online marketplace, overshadowing growth in its payments and Skype communications units.

May 6th, 2009 eBay to close Vancouver customer service facility SALT LAKE CITY — Online marketplace operator EBay Inc. said Tuesday it will close its Vancouver, Canada customer service facilities by Sept.

April 22nd, 2009 eBay 1st-qtr profit, sales fall on weak economy NEW YORK — EBay Inc. said Wednesday the weak economy led to lower earnings and revenue for the second consecutive quarter, but the online marketplace operator's results still beat analysts' expectations.

September 2nd, 2009 Wiretapping Skype calls: virus eavesdrops on VoIPSAN FRANCISCO — Some computer viruses have a crude but scary ability to spy on people by logging every keystroke they type. Now hackers and potentially law enforcement have another weapon: a virus that can eavesdrop on voice conversations that go over computers instead of a regular phone line.

September 1st, 2009 Bank of America, MetLife, EBay are big moversNEW YORK — The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange: NYSE: Bank of America Corp., down $1.13 at $16.46 The bank is looking to pay back some of the billions in federal bailout aid it has received, according to a published report. MetLife Inc., down $2.79 at $34.97 A Raymond James analyst downgraded the insurer to "Market Perform" from "Strong Buy," citing the company's overvalued stock price.

May 12th, 2009 EBay cuts auction listing fees for casual sellersNEW YORK — The online marketplace eBay is eliminating some upfront fees to attract more sellers who occasionally auction off items. San Jose, Calif.-based eBay Inc.

September 3rd, 2009 Investor group to take 20 percent stake in RetalixRA'ANANA, Israel — Software maker Retalix Ltd. said Thursday it will sell a 20 percent stake in the company to a group of investors.

September 9th, 2009 EBay, McDonald's, Capital 1, Apple big moversNEW YORK — The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE: McDonald's Corp., down $1.13 at $55.09 Sales at established restaurants grew the smallest amount since February at the world's largest fast-food chain. Capital One Financial Corp., up $2.03 at $37.47 A Citigroup analyst upgraded the credit card issuer, saying credit losses should improve as the worst of its charge-offs are over.

October 1st, 2009 LONDON - A 10-year-old British schoolgirl tired of her grandmother's "moaning" decided to sell her on eBay. Zoe Pemberton, a pupil at the Great Clacton Church of England Junior School, described Marian Goodall, 61, as "rare and annoying and moaning a lot" but also "very cuddly and loves word searches", reports The Daily Express.