Investors warm to Web calling - BusinessWeek

For many consumers, the appeal of low-cost Web-based calling has long been clear. But many investors have kept their distance from companies specializing in Internet telephony out of concern the industry would struggle to make money.

Until recently. The most high-profile indication of newfound love for Web calling came Sept. 1, when investors led by venture fund Silver Lake said they would pay eBay (EBAY) $1.9 billion for most of PC-to-PC calling giant Skype...