Online auctioneer eBay is to integrate Skype onto its website - and try and convince the world of the wisdom of its $2.6bn purchase.

The idea is to simplify communication between buyers and seller. Sellers will have the option of including a "Skype Me" button on the pages they set so bidders can call them using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Traditionally, eBayers have communicated by email, which stops sellers having to repeatedly answer the same questions as they are left on the site. Whether sellers will be as enthusiastic about getting phone calls remains to be seen.

This man is probably glad he wasn't stuck answering phone calls for the whole course of the auction.

eBay will test the service on some product categories before considering a general roll-out. The pilot will be free, although eBay has in the past said it will be able to charge people for making the calls.

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