eBay's decision machine

Took me some time, but I think I figured it out! It seems like eBay has acquired a state-of-the-art 'buy-vs-build decision mixer' (sold used for $19 by a user named 'netscape'):

This is how it works:

• Write smart decisions like 'build own ad network', or 'license VoIP phone' on a piece of paper.
• Tear down the middle, and throw all the pieces into the mixer.
• Take out two random halves and voila - you have the decisions needed to run your company.

'Buy VoIP phone with no revenues for $2B+'?

'Hand over biggest ad asset to your biggest competitor'?!

'Pull from the gutter the VoIP system of that same biggest competitor and make it a viable alternative for your $2B+ system'?!?!?!

Yup - must be that decision mixer in action. No other way to explain any of this...

Coverage of the eBay-Google mystery deal TechCrunch, paidContent and GigaOm.