When eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion just two years ago, at that Skype had some 54 million members. Now, the VoIP startup has more than 196 million customers all over the world, what I can say a global VoIP community. However, it has failed to produce satisfactory financial results for the auctioneer despite charging price from the customers since January this year. So, Should eBay sell Skype?
eBay has reportedly said that it paid nearly $1 billion more to acquire Skype. As part of the two years old earn-out agreement deal, the auctioneer has to pay around $530 million to several former Skype shareholders including Niklas Zennstrom, who quit the CEO post this week.
The amount is a part of the $1.43 billion charge mentioned earlier. eBay would have paid $1.7 billion to investors if Skype had fulfilled its targets.
As per last quarter result, Skype earned nearly $90 million revenue. It is meager five percent of eBay’s total revenue despite the fact that Skype is charging customers for SkypeOut calls that makes them to enjoy unlimited long distance calls to any phone number in USA and Canada. The yearly price of SkypeOut is $29.95.
eBay purchased Skype to enable buyers a cheap way of talking to the sellers and vice-versa. In this way, they can develop a better marketing relationship and share information on goods and services at the auctioneer’s site. As a result, eBay can strength its online marketing.
