EBay

Type:	Public
Founded:	USA, 1995
Founder(s):	Pierre Omidyar, Michael Dean Johnson
Headquarters:	San Jose, California
Country:	USA
Employees:	17,000+
Revenue:	US$ 9.156 billion (2010)
Website:	ebay.com
Blog:	eBayINKblog
Facebook:	eBay Facebook
LinkedIn:	eBay LinkedIn
Twitter:	@ebay
Key People
Pierre Omidyar, Chairman John Donahoe, CEO

eBay is the largest online marketplace in the world, with over 94 million active users. This online marketplace connects individual sellers and buyers and also small businesses. In 2010, eBay sold $62 billion worth of goods online; that is almost $2,000 worth of goods each second.

History

The company was founded in 1995. On the Labor Day weekend of the same year, Pierre Omidyar, a computer programmer wrote an experimental code to see what would be the result if people worldwide were given access to the single marketplace. He put his new auction website to test by putting a used and broken laser pointer for sale. To his surprise, a collector purchased the pointer for $14.83. This marked the beginning of eBay. The company gradually also became the first exemplary online social networking site.

Presently, eBay has made its presence felt in 39 markets. In 2002, the community made PayPal their online method of payment. Since then, the company has acquired several new business ventures like StubHub, Shopping.com and Bill Me Later to name a few.

eBay and ICANN

The organization has publicly commented on ICANN task forces and decisions.

eBay is one of the first large corporations to be recognized as pursuing the creation of a new Brand gTLD through ICANN's nascent process.

An ICANN accredited registrar has previously been put up for sale via eBay!

eBay companies

• StubHub
• Half.com
• brands4friends
• Shopping.com
• ProStores
• Rent.com

Partnerships

In 2005, eBay Inc. acquired Skype and its customer base expanded to over 480 million registered users. However, in November 2009 to put more focus on core payment and e-commerce businesses, eBay Inc. sold the maximum stake in Skype. The other companies, eBay has partnered with include -

• MercadoLibre
• Skype
• China (EachNet)
• Turkey (Gittigidiyor)
• Craigslist
• Taiwan (Ruten)
• ChannelAdvisor
• Union Mobile Pay
• mFoundry

Acquisitions

eBay has acquired 33 companies as of March, 2011, most of which are from the USA. The majority of these companies are online auction companies. A list of companies acquired by eBay is given below:

• PayPal
• Blackthorne
• Up4Sale.com
• Skype Limited
• Positronic Inc.
• Butterfield & Butterfield
• Internet Auction Co.
• Baazee.com
• Shopping.com
• EachNet
• Magento
• Marktplaats.nl
• Tradera
• Milo.com
• GittiGidiyor
• Craigslist
• OpusForum.org
• dba.dk & bilbasen.dk
• StubHub
• Billpoint
• Half.com
• CARad.com
• Rent.com
• Bill Me Later
• RedLaser
• Alando
• Gumtree
• StumbleUpon
• GSI Commerce
• iBazar
• Meetup.com
• Precision Buying Service
• Loquo