My two cents on eBay's 4.1B aquisition of Skype

Most people focus on the VoIP feature of Skype. But I want to say that it is the DESKTOP which eBay really wants to own.

Why not Microsoft, Google or Yahoo? Because they all have a desktop IM application, MSN messenger, Google Talk or Desktop Search and yahoo Messenger. But the internet powerhouse eBay doesn't have one.

Why desktop? Using a browser is that user looks for the information actively. But with a desktop application, the information will be delivered to the user automatically. I believe that very soon, the Skype application will have all the ebay features plugged in. User will be able to post, bid and track their ebay transactions instantly without a browser, without receiving numerous "You are outbidded ..." emails and without knowing what is ebay.com

The brower centric internet access may end. Instead, the desktop application will have the capability of accessing the internet. SOA will play a big role. That's why Google, Yahoo and MSN open their web APIs. That's why Konfabulator is so cool.

It is the time not just for the internet but for the internet desktop.