So it’s official, eBay buys Skype. What’s next? While most people are considering phone auctions, some are looking at paying for calls through PayPal. People are already using Skype for free, perhaps a fraction of them would want to pay?
eBay/PayPal has disclosed their new micropayment scheme. While the release claims digital content as the driver for adopting this new model, perhaps phone calls was at the back of their minds.
The payments are not limited to calls themselves, of course – PayPal+Skype could put up a value added infrastructure similar to the Mobile VAS that Philippine telcos operate. Call someone. Make a deal – whether an auction, a straight sale, or even paid consulting over the phone. Pay directly from Skype. More voice traffic and e-commerce all around.
1 comment
While it is exciting, the fact that it’s proprietary and consequently quite controlled, it probably won’t be able to nurture a very open e-commerce market that’ll revolutionize the way we do business.