EBay to sell Skype plans

EBay Inc., the world’s largest online auctioneer, said its Skype Internet phone service will begin selling
calling plans allowing for unlimited service within North America in an attempt to make the unit profitable.

Skype will charge $29.95 US a year for the plan and is giving a 50 per cent discount to subscribers who buy before
Jan. 31, San Jose, Calif.-based eBay said in a statement.

EBay is attempting to boost revenue for the unit, where third-quarter sales rose 13 per cent to $50 million, slower than the 26 per cent growth in the second quarter. Skype previously charged 2.1 cents a minute for calls from subscribers’ computers to telephones within North America and various rates for overseas calls.

Computer-to-computer calls remain free.