EBay buys Skype and enters IM wars.

CNET reports that Ebay has entered an agreement to purchase Skype for 2.6 billion -- and overnight acquiring a pool of over 50 million users of the free communications software. The linkage of IM capability with Ebay's core auction business seems an excellent fit, though how it will impact revenues is hard to see. Certainly Ebay is paying a premium for the installed base represented by Skype's users. But with at least 4 major players and ever lowering barriers of entry, will this still look like a good buy in 6 months? I also wonder how long it will take to really integrate the Skype function set into the Ebay site/apps, and how users will react. Ebay looks to be very busy for the coming year!