2 ms·

eBay Acquiring StumbleUpon

15 points by veritas 20y ago

jkush 20y ago
What is Ebay doing with stumbleupon? Doesn't seem to fit with their business. Not in any way I can see at least.
- russ 20y ago
  wondering the same...
- veritas 20y ago
  I can't really think of any reason, but Om Malik apparently can... posted that link as well.
- jkush 20y ago
  From: http://gigaom.com/2007/04/18/ebay-likely-buyer-for-stumbleupon/#more-8780 http://gigaom.com/2007/04/18/ebay-likely-buyer-for-stumbleupon/#more-8780 "By marrying the (StumbleUpon) toolbar to Skype client, eBay can do an end run around Googles dominance of the search business. A simple search box inside Skype client is all it would take. It is not that far fetched: Skype has been slowly integrating various different services (including PayPal) into its client, and slowly becoming eBays desktop backdoor."
  - AF 20y ago
    Seems pretty silly. Why wouldn't people just pop open their web browser and use Google?
  - Sam_Odio 20y ago
    A search box inside skype? Based on that logic, we should be putting internet search boxes inside everything.... What about a search box inside iChat, iCal, and iPhoto too? genius...
    - danielha 20y ago
      It's all speculation at this point. I'm not a user of StumbleUpon, so correct me if I'm off base here, but I can see utilizing SU's site discovery tech for something in eBay's space, such as product or brand discovery. Even if the acquisition has little to do with eBay's core business, it's easy to see that companies are always looking for expansionary development.
    - Sam_Odio 20y ago
      You know, I said that sarcastically, but it actually wouldn't be that bad of an idea... It'd be really cool if apple integrated search engines into spotlight, iphoto, mail, etc. For example, it would be cool if when I searched for "startup school" in iPhoto's search, iPhoto also flickr/google image results for startup school....
wschroter 20y ago
Think of ebay using it's $40m as a permanent ad placement for it's own products and services. It's not that far off in that context. Plus if it actually becomes a real company and has value, then it's a big deal. $40m isn't too much money for a decent bet. $4 billion (a la Skype - uh, yeah)

15 points by veritas 20y ago

jkush 20y ago

What is Ebay doing with stumbleupon? Doesn't seem to fit with their business. Not in any way I can see at least.

russ 20y ago
wondering the same...
veritas 20y ago
I can't really think of any reason, but Om Malik apparently can... posted that link as well.
jkush 20y ago
From: http://gigaom.com/2007/04/18/ebay-likely-buyer-for-stumbleupon/#more-8780 http://gigaom.com/2007/04/18/ebay-likely-buyer-for-stumbleupon/#more-8780 "By marrying the (StumbleUpon) toolbar to Skype client, eBay can do an end run around Googles dominance of the search business. A simple search box inside Skype client is all it would take. It is not that far fetched: Skype has been slowly integrating various different services (including PayPal) into its client, and slowly becoming eBays desktop backdoor."
- AF 20y ago
  Seems pretty silly. Why wouldn't people just pop open their web browser and use Google?
- Sam_Odio 20y ago
  A search box inside skype? Based on that logic, we should be putting internet search boxes inside everything.... What about a search box inside iChat, iCal, and iPhoto too? genius...
  - danielha 20y ago
    It's all speculation at this point. I'm not a user of StumbleUpon, so correct me if I'm off base here, but I can see utilizing SU's site discovery tech for something in eBay's space, such as product or brand discovery. Even if the acquisition has little to do with eBay's core business, it's easy to see that companies are always looking for expansionary development.
  - Sam_Odio 20y ago
    You know, I said that sarcastically, but it actually wouldn't be that bad of an idea... It'd be really cool if apple integrated search engines into spotlight, iphoto, mail, etc. For example, it would be cool if when I searched for "startup school" in iPhoto's search, iPhoto also flickr/google image results for startup school....

wschroter 20y ago

Think of ebay using it's $40m as a permanent ad placement for it's own products and services. It's not that far off in that context. Plus if it actually becomes a real company and has value, then it's a big deal. $40m isn't too much money for a decent bet. $4 billion (a la Skype - uh, yeah)