My gut reaction to this news is that it's something bad just waiting to blow up, but I can't honestly say why. Niklas Zennstrom, Skype's CEO and founder, told a VON audience last week that customers of Skype and PayPal (both owned by eBay) will soon be able to link their accounts. Customers, then, would be able to send money with a click of the mouse. I don't know about you, but I get a ton of eBay-related spam and PayPal phishes every day, and there's growing concern about vishing. I'm not sure that being able to send quantities of money to points unknown with a single mouse click--let alone from an online account with links to my credit cards and bank accounts--is a good thing. And with the terrible reputation for arrogant and non-responsive customer service that eBay, Skype, and PayPal have all earned, I've got to believe that linking Skype and PayPal accounts is like putting a match to a dangerous fuse.
For more information about Skype and PayPal:
- read this article [1] from Telecommunications Industry News
Related Articles:
"Vishing," VoIP phishing on the rise. Report [2]
Skype ends party, sets annual unlimited rate. Report [3]
Why eBay bought Skype. Report [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.teleclick.ca/2007/03/paypal-send-money-feature-coming-soon-to-skype-voip-service/
[2] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/trend-vishing-voip-phishing-on-the-rise/2006-08-01
[3] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/skype-ends-party-sets-annual-unlimited-rate/2006-12-15
[4] http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/why-ebay-bought-skype/2006-06-16