Skype's future plans may include sampling, selling of eBay digital content

That's what Business Week writer (and fellow Portlander, I might add) Olga Kharif seems to think.In an article she posted earlier today, Olga says that Skype

-owner eBay isn't giving up yet. Citing sources, Olga maintains that the next major Skype software upgrade, anticipated early next year, could help eBay promite and sell digital music, video and software content.

Skype's specific role in such digital ecommerce initiatives is far from clear, but I could envision merchants paying a premium to eBay for sample content to be pushed through the Skype connections of opt-in (and it better be opt-in) users. For example, jazz lovers who opt in to such a service could receive personalized alerts when they log on to their Skype accounts that sample content is available for play. This musical or video content could then be pushed through the Skype connection, and actually play over it.

Then if you want to buy the content you have just sampled, you can pay for it via eBay-owned Paypal.

And if that sounds interesting, then what about this? Olga's source envisions future options that would facilitate the carrying of calls between a therapist and a patient. Not sure how many would go for that right away.