"By marrying the (StumbleUpon) toolbar to Skype client, eBay can do an end run around Googles dominance of the search business. A simple search box inside Skype client is all it would take. It is not that far fetched: Skype has been slowly integrating various different services (including PayPal) into its client, and slowly becoming eBays desktop backdoor."
It's all speculation at this point. I'm not a user of StumbleUpon, so correct me if I'm off base here, but I can see utilizing SU's site discovery tech for something in eBay's space, such as product or brand discovery.
Even if the acquisition has little to do with eBay's core business, it's easy to see that companies are always looking for expansionary development.
You know, I said that sarcastically, but it actually wouldn't be that bad of an idea...
It'd be really cool if apple integrated search engines into spotlight, iphoto, mail, etc.
For example, it would be cool if when I searched for "startup school" in iPhoto's search, iPhoto also flickr/google image results for startup school....
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[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 34.3 ms ] thread"By marrying the (StumbleUpon) toolbar to Skype client, eBay can do an end run around Googles dominance of the search business. A simple search box inside Skype client is all it would take. It is not that far fetched: Skype has been slowly integrating various different services (including PayPal) into its client, and slowly becoming eBays desktop backdoor."
What about a search box inside iChat, iCal, and iPhoto too? genius...
Even if the acquisition has little to do with eBay's core business, it's easy to see that companies are always looking for expansionary development.
It'd be really cool if apple integrated search engines into spotlight, iphoto, mail, etc.
For example, it would be cool if when I searched for "startup school" in iPhoto's search, iPhoto also flickr/google image results for startup school....
Plus if it actually becomes a real company and has value, then it's a big deal.
$40m isn't too much money for a decent bet. $4 billion (a la Skype - uh, yeah)