eBay announced Tuesday it will allow sellers to add Skype buttons to their listings on the UK site beginning this week. Skype is eBay's VoIP Internet telephony service that lets users talk over the Internet with other Skype users for free.

The pilot program will take effect in certain categories on eBay UK, including art, antiques, stamps, coins, pottery & glass, sports memorabilia, real estate, baby products, musical instruments, and audio consumer electronics. There is no charge for adding Skype buttons for sellers, and it is entirely optional.

Skype has already been available on several country sites such as eBay Belgium and eBay Eachnet in China, and eBay announced Skype functionality in the U.S. earlier this month. Sellers can add "Skype Me" buttons to their listings when completing the Sell your Item form. The Skype button appears in the "Ask a seller a question" section. By clicking on Skype buttons, buyers can communicate with sellers using voice, text chat or both.

eBay's CEO had said last month that 25 percent of listings on eBay China include Skype, and that the Average Selling Price of those listings was twice as high as those listings that did not utilize Skype within the listing.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/200607041517082.html