Internet giant Google may currently be engaged in talks with eBay concerning the online auction site's Skype service, it has been suggested.Bought by eBay in September 2005, Skype is a software program that enables users to make telephone calls over the internet to other Skype users free of charge, as well as to mobile phones and landlines for a fee.
According to internet blog TechCrunch, new information has come to light which suggests that Google may be considering either a partnership or an outright purchase of the service.
Reportedly, a decision may be announced "in the near future".
TechCrunch's Michael Arrington states: "It's clear that eBay wants to either unload Skype, or significantly drive performance. Google, by contrast, is just beginning to think about how to dominate the voice space."
He also said that Skype has been a "financial albatross" around the neck of eBay since it was bought.
Mr Arrington went on to state that, while Google's "core team" concerning voice over internet protocol (VoIP) should currently be at the CTIA Wireless Conference in Las Vegas, they are either not showing up at their scheduled meetings or are not present.
He commented: "That doesn't mean the team is busy working on a partnership or acquisition of Skype instead of attending the conference. But given that we've heard from sources close to the deal that something is happening between the companies, it's not a stretch, either."
