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Talk of the day

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 15, 2006

Need a quick eBay answer? Now you can Skype 'em

EBay Inc. is adding a "Skype Me" button to certain categories of listings, allowing prospective buyers to contact sellers directly through the Internet phone service it acquired last year for $2.6-billion. EBay chief executive Meg Whitman said the function is one way the company was pressing its "Power of Three" strategy to make the most of its acquisitions of the PayPal online payment service in 2002 and Skype last year. In the free service, those who push the on-screen button will be able to contact sellers by voice, text chat or both to request more information about a specific item in real time, she said. That will help eliminate so-called friction that can get in the way of a sale, especially in high-price categories or those that require a lot of information before a deal is made, she said. The button will be added in a trial starting Monday on 14 categories of products in which eBay determined instant communication can better facilitate trade, such as automotive GPS devices, NBA basketball cards, diamond solitaire rings, real estate, and cars and trucks, the company said.

Yes, Mr. Skilling, don't forget your lawyer

Lawyers for Jeffrey Skilling have asked the government to release $60-million in assets under its control, citing the former Enron Corp. CEO's acquittal on insider trading charges connected to the funds. Defense attorney Daniel Petrocelli filed a motion with U.S. District Court Judge Sim Lake requesting the assets be released to Skilling. "Jeff wants to pay his obligations. He has obligations to his children, his family and, of course, he owes substantial sums of money to his lawyers," Petrocelli said. Skilling owes Petrocelli's firm, O'Melveny and Myers, "tens of millions of dollars," Petrocelli said.

George Washington drank coffee here ...

The historic Maryland Inn, a fixture of Annapolis since the 18th century when George Washington was a customer, is likely getting a 21st century Starbucks Corp. coffee shop. The Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to allow changes to the exterior of the inn, parts of which date to 1780. The building, originally the King of France Tavern, was a haunt of American patriots and revolutionaries. Parts of it still have the original brick floor, stone walls and cooking fireplace. According to local lore, Washington once lost a horse in a game of cards there.

[Last modified June 15, 2006, 06:42:56]