Internet Entrepreneurs, The

Looking to the future

Technical problems and the odd liver for sale aside, eBay's rise has seemed unstoppable. By creating a unique marketplace with mass appeal – who doesn't after all have a cupboard full of unwanted or unused items – the company has established itself as the leading e-commerce site on the web. And tapping the huge and ill-served market for collectibles has only underscored its popularity.

Even the advent of the likes of Microsoft, Excite and Lycos into the auction market has left little or no trace on eBay's inexorable growth. Meanwhile, the group, through the co-axis of Omidyar and Whitman, has not rested on its laurels. New services, product categories and partners have only served to strengthen eBay's position.

So what ...