Google, eBay form advertising alliance

[madokie]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060828/ap_on_hi_te/google_ebay

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer



SAN FRANCISCO - In a deal between two of the Internet's most prominent players, Google will begin selling advertising for eBay outside the United States and help buyers quickly ring an online merchant to do business.

The arrangement announced Monday promises to introduce "click-to-call" Web site technology to a broader audience and potentially speed its adoption as a means of more quickly connecting online consumers with advertisers. It will allow potential buyers to call eBay merchants or Google advertisers by clicking a link on a Web page.

"We have a chance to create a whole new way for buyers and sellers to connect online and to create what we hope will be a significant revenue stream for both eBay and Google," eBay Inc. Chief Executive Meg Whitman said in an interview Sunday night.

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Its advocates, including some merchants who have tried it, say customers who call are ready to buy and aren't just browsing the Internet; thus, search engines can charge more — $2 to $10 or even more per call, compared with less than $1 per click with traditional search ads.