The Arizona Republic reported on Friday that eBay is building a data center in Phoenix. Last month, Google said it would open a location in the Phoenix area where it will locate 600 engineering and support jobs, but was tightlipped about its plans for the facility (http://auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y05/m10/i13/s02). Rumors had immediately started that Google might be using Phoenix as a locale for an online auction service or online payment service to rival eBay or PayPal.

eBay told the Arizona newspaper it had chosen Phoenix because the company needs back-up locations that are not known for earthquakes and other natural disasters. The facility will open next year and be staffed with an undisclosed number of technology and engineering professionals.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1104ebay-ON.html