MarketingVOX: Google and eBay today announced they have reached a multiyear agreement related to click-to-call and text ads.
Google will be the exclusive provider of text ads on eBay’s auction sites outside the U.S. and the companies will also develop a click-to-call ad system, reports Forbes. The click-to-call functionality will leverage both eBay’s Skype and Google Talk globally, in each company’s respective shopping and search platforms, allowing eBay buyers and other consumers to reach eBay merchants or Google advertisers, writes AuctionBytes.com. eBay in May announced a similar deal with Yahoo for U.S.-based advertising, including click-to-call ads.
Google and eBay plan to begin testing text-based and click-to-call ads in early 2007 and evaluate the results over several months, with the specific components and timing of the implementation depending on initial test results and varying by local market circumstances. The deal involves revenue sharing, but details were not released.
Also, Skype will soon offer its users the Google Toolbar, to which Skype will have added a custom button. The companies will explore enabling interoperability between Skype and Google Talk.
Related stories:
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- Google Checkout (not Gbuy) Checks in, Challenges PayPal (and Amazon)
- eBay to Add Skype Links to Listings
- Microsoft Considers eBay Acquisition
- Yahoo and eBay Form Online Advertising and E-Commerce Alliance
- eBay Integrating Skype, PayPal; to Launch Online Advertising Service
- Hitwise: Google, eBay Drive Online Retail Visits
- Google Seeks Mobile Click-to-Call Ad Patent
- Google Tests Click-to-Call Ads
- eBay to Buy Skype for $2.6B, Rely on Click-to-Call to Grow
