EBay's Skype debuts video software for Mac users

EBay Inc.'s Skype, the world's largest Internet telephone service, introduced the first version of its video-calling software for Macintosh computer users as it seeks to add new subscribers. The software allows users to make free video calls to other Skype subscribers regardless of whether they use Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh or Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software, Luxembourg-based Skype said on Wednesday in a statement distributed by Business Wire. Skype, with more than 113 million subscribers after adding 18 million in the Q2, charges fees for Internet calls to traditional and mobile phones. CEO Meg Whitman acquired Skype last year to increase transactions on the company's auction sites by encouraging buyers and sellers to talk about cars and other big-ticket items. EBay is expanding online telephone calling and bill-payment services as revenue growth from auctions has slowed this year. Skype has generated $104.1 million in sales over the past three quarters for EBay. Shares of San Jose, California-based EBay, the world's largest online auctioneer, have dropped 35% this year and are headed for their worst performance since 2000. The stock fell 45 cents, or 1.6%, to $28 at 4 p.m. in composite trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. (Bloomberg,OTS-Cégvonal)