BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Google and the world's biggest internet auction company eBay announced on Monday an advertising alliance that would create a system to help buyers directly call sellers.

    Under the deal, eBay announced, Google would be the exclusive provider of advertising on its sites in all countries outside America.

    Whenever a potential bidder seeks a product on eBay, Google will use its search expertise to come up with relevant promotional links.

    As part of the new deal, eBay and Google will collaborate on so-called "click-to-call" advertising, which allows shoppers to place phone calls through their personal or laptop computers or handheld devices by clicking on a link in an Internet ad.

    The "click-to-call" Web site technology is intended to reach a wider audience than the current text-only Web site.

    Internet auction site eBay last year bought Skype, an Internet phone service. Google has its own messaging and phone service. Both services will be used in the new partnership, but details weren't immediately available.

    Financial terms of the deal were not released, but both companies acknowledged that it includes revenue sharing.

    The service, which will be rolled out in early 2007 to consumers, is similar to a partnership eBay has with Yahoo to provide listings domestically. Enditem 

(Agencies)