EBay will begin its integration of Skype’s voice-over-IP (VoIP) service with its U.S. auction site next week, giving sellers the option to add a “Skype Me” button alongside their product listings, eBay announced on Wednesday.The pilot program will be offered in 14 categories of products, including real estate, cars and trucks, and cameras and camera equipment, the company said.EBay chose categories where it thinks a quick conversation will help sellers to close deals more quickly. They include higher-priced or complex goods, or products involving new technologies that might need explaining. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe The pilot program will allow eBay to evaluate how the VoIP telephony service is used before it rolls it out across other product categories. The company has said it will offer the Skype feature in other countries too. EBay acquired Skype late last year for about US$2.6 billion.Sellers will be able to add the Skype Me button to their listings starting Monday. It will appear in a new “Ask a seller a question” section. Buyers will be able to click on the button to talk with sellers via Skype’s voice and chat services. The Skype feature will be offered for free, EBay said. It will also appear in the following categories: automotive GPS devices, wired routers, Skype devices, VoIP and Internet telephony devices, diamond solitaire rings, manufacturing and metalworking, beds, basketball cards, silver coins, “Lost in Space” collectibles and radio-controlled toys.Meg Whitman, eBay’s president and chief executive officer, announced the Skype plans Tuesday night at the start of the company’s eBay Live user convention in Las Vegas, a company spokesman said.-James Niccolai, IDG News Service (Paris Bureau)Related Links: eBay, Skype to Unveil New Tie-Ins on Tuesday Google’s GBuy to Give PayPal a Run for Its $ Yahoo, eBay Team Up to Boost Search, Ads eBay’s Keyword Ad System Lets Bloggers Cash InCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature Gen AI success starts with an effective pilot strategy To harness the promise of generative AI, IT leaders must develop processes for identifying use cases, educate employees, and get the tech (safely) into their hands. By Bob Violino Sep 27, 2023 10 mins Generative AI Generative AI Generative AI feature A fluency in business and tech yields success at NATO Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer speaks with Lee Rennick, host of CIO Leadership Live, Canada, about innovation in technology, leadership across a vast cultural landscape, and what it means to hold the inaugural CIO role at NATO. By CIO staff Sep 27, 2023 6 mins CIO IT Skills Innovation feature The demand for new skills: How can CIOs optimize their team? By Andrea Benito Sep 27, 2023 3 mins opinion The CIO event of the year: What to expect at CIO100 ASEAN Awards By Shirin Robert Sep 26, 2023 3 mins IDG Events IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe