Web VoIP firm Jajah banned from eBay

Innovation in VoIP has been forced a step backwards after eBay banned links to the Jajah voice network placed in ads by sellers.

Jajah had developed a button for eBay users to add to their listings on the popular auction website, reasoning that it could be useful for sellers and buyers to talk to each other.

However, eBay, which also owns competing web-based VoIP service Skype, said the links violate its policies and now has banned the use of them in product adverts on the site.

Catherine England, an eBay spokeswoman, told PC Advisor that the reason for the ban was that eBay requires that all interactions between buyers and sellersb happen in its marketplace.

And although Jajah chief executive Trevor Healy said he did not understand the objection, he advised users not to add the Jajah buttons for the time being.

"We don't want to upset eBay, nor do we want our users to get their listings deleted," he said.