In a Sale, Skype Wins a Chance to Prosper - But Only If It Beefs Up It's Payment Network

Skype must immediately focus on beefing up its international payments infrastructure to start cashing in on its user base. What if every major prepaid card could offer skype credits for example? Anyway, here is a good look at Skype's future options since its sale by BRAD STONE; "SAN FRANCISCO — With its sale to private investors, the online calling service Skype has thrown off the last of the shackles that limited its growth and potential as a unit of eBay. Now its challenge is to turn its global popularity into bigger profits. EBay announced on Tuesday that it was selling Skype to a group led by Silver Lake Partners, a private equity firm in Silicon Valley. As part of the deal, which values Skype at $2.75 billion, the buyers agreed to pay $1.9 billion in cash, which includes a loan from eBay of $125 million, for 65 percent of the company. EBay, which is based in San Jose, Calif., will retain a 35 percent stake. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/technology/companies/02ebay.html?_r=1&hpw