By Sally Watson, 19 February 1999 14:15
NEWS Speculation is rife about negotiations between online service provider AOL and Web trading community, eBay. A report in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week claimed AOL was considering buying a stake in the auction site. AOL and eBay have enjoyed a close relationship since signing a joint agreement in early September last year. The alliance saw AOL members being able to auction items over eBay's service. At the time eBay vice president, Steve Westly called the partnership a natural synergy. Barry Schuler, president of interactive services at AOL, said more and more AOL users wanted to buy and sell online, and the agreement would ensure they got the best possible price for their items. Any current discussions could centre on an AOL branded version of the eBay service for its members. AOL refused to comment on the rumours but said it was constantly in discussion with a number of Internet firms. In a statement eBay said the report was "purely speculative".
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