Comments on: google puts paypal in its crosshairs http://www.cheezhead.com/2005/06/18/google-puts-paypal-in-its-crosshairs/ Insight and opinion from the world of employment. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dave McClure http://www.cheezhead.com/2005/06/18/google-puts-paypal-in-its-crosshairs/#comment-178 Dave McClure Mon, 20 Jun 2005 01:45:33 +0000 http://www.cheezhead.com/2005/06/18/google-puts-paypal-in-its-crosshairs/#comment-178 many people have tried & failed to compete with paypal, including ebay itself (with billpoint, before admitting defeat & buying paypal for $1.5B in 2002), as well as Yahoo (paydirect) and c2it (citibank). numerous other startups too, many of which were killed by fraud costs & funky business models. that said, one of the few companies that could mount a realistic challenge is google (amazon is another). still, even with their brand & distribution it's not a slam dunk. but they've got a shot, and if nothing else they could reduce costs & hassle with all their existing adwords customers & adsense affiliates. one other startup to keep an eye on: www.xoom.com was started by a few friends of paypal founders, and includes more than a few paypal alumni on its team. (full disclosure: i used to work for paypal from 2001-2004) - dave mcclure www.simplyhired.com many people have tried & failed to compete with paypal, including ebay itself (with billpoint, before admitting defeat & buying paypal for $1.5B in 2002), as well as Yahoo (paydirect) and c2it (citibank). numerous other startups too, many of which were killed by fraud costs & funky business models.

that said, one of the few companies that could mount a realistic challenge is google (amazon is another). still, even with their brand & distribution it’s not a slam dunk. but they’ve got a shot, and if nothing else they could reduce costs & hassle with all their existing adwords customers & adsense affiliates.

one other startup to keep an eye on: http://www.xoom.com was started by a few friends of paypal founders, and includes more than a few paypal alumni on its team.

(full disclosure: i used to work for paypal from 2001-2004)

- dave mcclure
http://www.simplyhired.com

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