Online auctioneer eBay and Internet giant struck an alliance to boost their text-based and ‘click-to-call’ advertising strategies. Under the deal, Google advertisers will be promoted on eBay's auction websites around the world as the two companies seek to increase online commerce through the use of emerging Internet telephony services.
In 'click-to-call' advertising, a user clicks on a link or icon on their screen to initiate an Internet voice call to an online vendor. Since buying Internet telephony service Skype last year, eBay has integrated Internet calling features into its auction sites in several countries including Belgium, China, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Google will become the exclusive text-based advertising provider for eBay outside the US as a result of the accord.
Financial terms were not disclosed but some parts of the alliance would involve revenue sharing, said in a joint statement.
'We're pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with Google to explore new opportunities, like click-to-call advertising, that benefit both our communities of users,' said eBay CEO Meg Whitman.
The new tie-up will rely upon using Skype and Google Talk globally on both companies' search and shopping platforms.
The companies plan to start testing the advertising services in early 2007. A full launch of the services will depend upon initial test results and vary market by market.
Josiah Diega
http://jump2top.com
http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=GoogleandeBay-advertisingallies