Online auction site eBay is reportedly talking to VoIP provider Skype about a possible acquisition. The deal would cost eBay between $2bn and $3bn. 

Citing sources close to the deal, the Wall Street Journal claimed that talks are at a "sensitive" stage and could yet fall apart.

Internet telephony is outside the scope of eBay's core business of bringing together buyers and sellers of goods and services through a series of websites.

The auction website is interested in the VoIP provider to make it easier to buy and sell goods online, according to the source.

Rumours about Skype being for sale have been around all summer. The firm has allegedly been in talks with Yahoo, Google and Microsoft, although none of those reports have been confirmed. 

Skype is headquartered in London and is based in Luxembourg. The company was founded in August 2003 and has since attracted 53 million users, making it the largest player in the consumer VoIP market.

The software lets users place free voice calls over the internet or call telephone numbers at a discounted rate.

Since its inception, Skype has received about $24m in funding, mainly from venture capital firms.