eBay’s recent launch of various services has gathered quite a bit of attention from various blogs. Read/Write Web just published an article that explains these services in greater detail and asks the question: will they be profitable?

Unfortunately, eBay has yet to launch any services for their most requested asset - user data, specifically their feedback system. Various services have launched to meet the need for open user feedback (Rapleaf and iKarma, for instance), but none of these have the footprint that eBay does.

The number of users that have interacted in some fashion, whether it be selling or buying, on eBay is enormous. By opening up their feedback system, eBay would give third parties the ability to leverage this vast amount of data and empower their users to make sound decisions based on the users they interact with.

Unfortunately, this is eBay’s pride and joy - and other than their name, the only thing worthwhile. Anyone can create an auction site - there are literally thousands to choose from - but eBay’s popular originally stemmed from their user feedback system. The feedback system gave users a sense of security with others they were dealing with and has been the clincher in allowing eBay to transition from Beanie Babies to cars and real estate.