The group's principal activity is to operate online market place through the web site ebay.com. the group has developed a web-based community in which buyers and sellers are brought together to buy and sell items such as collectibles, automobiles, high-end or premium art items, jewelry, consumer electronics and a host of practical and miscellaneous items. the group also provides offline traditional auction services for fine art, antiques, collectibles and collector cars. through the wholly owned and partially owned subsidiaries and affiliates the group operates online trading platforms directed towards the united states, australia, austria, belgium, canada, france, germany, ireland, italy, japan, the netherlands, new zealand, singapore, south korea, spain, sweden, switzerland and the united kingdom. on 03-oct-2002, the group acquired paypal inc. online services accounted for 95% of 2001 revenues and offline services, 5%.