In eBay's presentation to investors regarding the purchase of Skype for $2.6 billion http://investor.ebay.com/downloads/050912ebay.pdf, the online auctioneer listed the monetization of lead generation as a primary objective. By adding Skype's VoIP capabilities, eBay hopes to venture into the burgeoning pay per call market. Can Skype deliver what eBay hopes?

Joe Siegrist, Senior Vice President of Technology at eStara the world's leading developer of VoIP-based click to call applications is available to comment on the latest developments surrounding pay per call. Siegrist directs software development and systems operations for eStara. An innovative software architect and accomplished VoIP development leader, Siegrist holds three patents and is a named inventor on a dozen patent applications in the voice over Internet and Internet-initiated calling space.

Though Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can add many desirable new features to business telecom systems, vendors and customers face difficult security challenges to realize these benefits, reports In-Stat. As a result, more than 75% of the companies that have implemented VoIP plan to replace their security appliances within the next year, the high-tech market research firm says. The security appliance market is poised for strong growth over the next few years, and will reach $7 billion by 2009, In-Stat forecasts.

The subscriber base of Voice over IP (Internet Protocol) services worldwide will remain small compared to the numbers of conventional fixed and mobile phone customers, even by 2010. But in terms of relative growth, VoIP is -- and will remain -- a dynamic market. And the most successful business model for VoIP services uses its strengths to add value to existing broadband subscriptions.