All the recent talk of business deals between Skype, eBay and Google has got people (including me) wondering what it all means for Skypers and web users. Well, here's a great example of how the beautiful friendship between Skype and eBay can make life easier, and maybe a touch more lucrative.

Peter Scrope got in touch to tell us how pleased he was with the bright new Skype button on his eBay ads. The first of Peter's eBay sales to feature a Skype button was his old piano, which was eventually snapped up for £313. Bulky, pricey items like these often attract lots of questions from potential bidders, and the time-delay involved in email can mean that questions don't get answered before an auction ends. A Skype button, however, allows sellers to chat with would-be buyers in real time.

"The first question was about tuning the piano," says Peter. "The person didn't end up winning the auction, but we were both impressed by the immediacy of this method of asking questions about auctions. The Skype button is definitely an added convenience, whether you're a buyer or a seller.

"As more and more people get broadband and Skype becomes more widespread, it makes perfect sense for eBay to link the two. I'll definitely include the button every time I sell something. In time I expect it'll become an integral part of selling on eBay."

Click here for more info on Skype buttons, including full instructions on adding them to your emails, customising them and using them with SkypeOut.