In a deal between two of the Internet's most prominent properties, Google will begin selling advertising for Web auctioneer eBay outside the United States and help buyers quickly ring an online merchant to do business.
The arrangement announced Monday promises to introduce "click-to-call" Web site technology to a broader audience and potentially speed its adoption as a means of more quickly connecting online consumers with advertisers. It will allow potential buyers to call eBay merchants or Google advertisers by clicking a link on a Web page.
"We have a chance to create a whole new way for buyers and sellers to connect online and to create what we hope will be a significant revenue stream for both eBay and Google," eBay Inc. Chief Executive Meg Whitman said in an interview Sunday night.
While eBay set up a deal a few months back with Yahoo for domestic advertising, Google will now be handling all ads outside the US. Nice of eBay to share the love.
Also note that click-to-call is critical in this deal -- and it's not just a Skype thing. AP reports that both Skype AND Google Talk will be employed:
Last year, eBay bought the Internet phone service Skype. Google has its own messaging and Internet-based telephone service, Google Talk. Both services will be used in the partnership, though details were not disclosed. EBay does plan to rely on Google's international presence to build a worldwide market for Skype.
Promoting "click-to-call" advertising was also part of the deal eBay announced with Yahoo in May. Yahoo also has been testing the concept.
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