Is it just me? I’m noticing some eBay / Microsoft “closeness” that makes me wonder if MS is going to announce soon that it’s purchased eBay.
Some datapoints:
Microsoft offers employees eBay stock instead of own:
http://www.denounce.com/archives/000020.html
(This one is false - thanks to Frank for pointing that out.)
Joint development efforts:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18201992
Marketing and Communication Alliance:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/jul03/07-10MSNeBay2003PR.asp
Office/eBay Integration:
http://doc.advisor.com/doc/13767
A UK “partnership” :
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/community/aboutebay/news/ebay_and_msn.html
Note the current eBay URL structure:
http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ebaymotors
And note the MSN Banners on eBay auctions (looking for all the world like the first step in global navigation changes):
I might be all wet, but sure looks like the two are inching towards a merger. Well, OK, not a “merger” pe se, based on this quote from the article linked to above:
Whether or not Microsoft will acquire eBay, currently worth over $36 billion, is not known. Microsoft could buy eBay for cash and still have over $10 billion in reserves, Wall Street analysts pointed out.
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