Think of ebay using it's $40m as a permanent ad placement for it's own products and services. It's not that far off in that context.

Plus if it actually becomes a real company and has value, then it's a big deal.

$40m isn't too much money for a decent bet. $4 billion (a la Skype - uh, yeah)

What is Ebay doing with stumbleupon? Doesn't seem to fit with their business. Not in any way I can see at least.

From: http://gigaom.com/2007/04/18/ebay-likely-buyer-for-stumbleupon/#more-8780

"By marrying the (StumbleUpon) toolbar to Skype client, eBay can do an end run around Google’s dominance of the search business. A simple search box inside Skype client is all it would take. It is not that far fetched: Skype has been slowly integrating various different services (including PayPal) into its client, and slowly becoming eBay’s desktop backdoor."

A search box inside skype? Based on that logic, we should be putting internet search boxes inside everything....

What about a search box inside iChat, iCal, and iPhoto too? genius...

It's all speculation at this point. I'm not a user of StumbleUpon, so correct me if I'm off base here, but I can see utilizing SU's site discovery tech for something in eBay's space, such as product or brand discovery.

Even if the acquisition has little to do with eBay's core business, it's easy to see that companies are always looking for expansionary development.

You know, I said that sarcastically, but it actually wouldn't be that bad of an idea...

It'd be really cool if apple integrated search engines into spotlight, iphoto, mail, etc.

For example, it would be cool if when I searched for "startup school" in iPhoto's search, iPhoto also flickr/google image results for startup school....

Seems pretty silly. Why wouldn't people just pop open their web browser and use Google?

I can't really think of any reason, but Om Malik apparently can... posted that link as well.

wondering the same...