Microsoft has been in talks for several weeks about a possible acquisition of eBay according to a recent article by the New York Post. Unnamed sources close to the Post said the tech giant is considering buying online auction leader eBay and merging it with MSN in an effort to challenge Google for Internet supremacy. While talks are still active, the Post says they have cooled somewhat as a result of antitrust concerns. And despite last weeks announcement that eBay and Yahoo formed an advertising and search alliance, sources say it won’t quell Microsoft from courting eBay.
If the Microsoft-eBay deal goes through, it could be very lucrative for MSN as eBay sees $1,608 dollars exchanging hands every second on its website.But, the deal also seems like a desperate move from the Redmond-based giant as the company has been faced with mounting criticism for delays over its next operating system, Windows Vista.EBay, who owns online voice-over-IP company Skype, could also be a welcomed addition to the Microsoft family as the company needs new avenues in which to compete online.