Online auction site eBay is rumoured to be in talks to buy Skype Technologies, an internet phone firm that is helping revolutionise the telecoms industry. Reports claim that eBay may pay between $2bn (£1.1bn) and $3bn for Skype. Skype's software lets computer users talk to each other for free, and allows them make cut-price calls to phones. The potential for this sort of service is such that firms including Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and AOL are battling to offer their own versions. Google recently launched its Talk service, while Microsoft purchased leading player Teleo for an undisclosed sum. Skype has already been linked to a number of other suitors, including Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and internet search engine Google. [BBC News]