Here is the AuctionBytes online-auction news roundup for Thursday, December 8, 2005.

"EBay's franchise seen as strong, But growth is slowing," by Ed Lin, Forbes, 12/6/05
http://www.vnunet.com/forbes/news/2147215/ebay-franchise-seen-strong

"Yahoo adds Skype-like ability to IM service," by Bruce Meyerson (AP), Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12/7/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/1700AP_Yahoo_Phone_Calls.html

"Art Dealer Admits eBay Fraud," New York Post, 12/6/05
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/59056.htm
Wall Street Journal also has an article, paid subscription required:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113392014346015800.html

"eBay Eachnet To Focus On Import And Export Trade," ChinaTechNews, 12/7/05
http://www.chinatechnews.com/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3272

"eBay UK takes down pirate software sales," ChannelRegister, 12/6/05
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/12/06/ebay_uk_pirate_software

"The "eBay lady" kicks into turbo click for the holiday: Birmingham woman has sold thousands of items and is one of top sellers on auction site," by Nick Bunkley, The Detroit News, 12/7/05
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/BIZ04/512070404/1001

"LI family top eBay seller," BY RICHARD J. DALTON JR, Newsday, 12/6/05
http://www.newsday.com/business/local/longisland/ny-bzebay1207,0,88831.story

"Time Warner Nears Agreement With Microsoft on Advertising Pact," By ROBERT A. GUTH, DENNIS K. BERMAN and JULIA ANGWIN, Wall Street Journal, 12/6/05
Paid subscription required.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113385364578814970.html

"AOL Deal May Omit Stake Sale," by Saul Hansell, New York Times, 12/6/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/06/technology/06online.html

"2005 Financials released: USPS finishes 2005 debt free, Harrisburg P&DC to be renamed for Governor Daniels," USPS Newslink, 12/6/05
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2005dec06.htm#1