Indexing & Search Engine - eWeek



eBay Acquires Social Search Engine StumbleUpon




eBay will likely use its $75 million acquisition to surface and recommend its vast inventory of auction and sale items.

eBay announced May 31 that it has completed its purchase of social search Engine StumbleUpon for a total price of $75 million.

StumbleUpon, an early stage company that boasts about 2.3 million users, is a social recommendation search engine that offers new content based upon users preferences and how theyve rated pages theyve previously seen through the engine.

Read more here about additional convictions in an eBay fraud case.

"StumbleUpon is a great fit within our goal of pioneering new communities based on commerce and sustained by trust," said Michael Buhr, senior director, eBay, in a company statement. "StumbleUpons downloadable toolbar provides an engaging and unique experience to its users, but it is the similarities in our approaches to the concept of community that make it such a compelling addition to eBay."

eBay is likely to integrate StumbleUpons recommendation service into its auctions and sales as a way to surface less-trafficked items that may be of interest to shoppers with esoteric tastes.

Buhr will serve as general manager of StumbleUpon effective immediately, according to eBay. StumbleUpons current founders and management team will remain in their respective positions.

eBay said it does not expect the acquisition to have a material impact on its financial guidance issued with its first quarter earnings release this past April.

Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on technologys impact on retail.







 
 
>>> More Indexing & Search Engine Articles          >>> More By Steve Bryant
 

FEATURED SPONSOR MESSAGE

Start the New Year with business intelligence—it’s a smart move

Join us on February 1 for an encore rebroadcast at either 5 am or 12 noon EST and discover how business intelligence (BI) supports companies in uncertain business and economic climates. Get expert advice on how to create a strategy that fits your organization's needs and budget and see how quickly it can pay for itself.

Click Here

Brought to you by


eweek digital



Advertisement
 
APPLY FOR A FREE 
SUBSCRIPTION BELOW:

>Try digital eWEEK
>Renew today
>Subscription help
>More FREE Subscriptions
First Name:Last Name:
Title:Company:
Address:City:
State:Zip Code:
Email:
eWEEK Quick LInks