One of the most common criticisms of web2.0 apps is their suspected vulnerability to either being fly by night operations or being too unreliable for the long-haul business solution types whose services they could augment.

However, in the past month, we’ve seen the Skype implosion with days of no service and little communication from Skype corporate (actually owned by a “big” company… namely eBay).  Now, it seems that PayPal is experiencing similar problems with their subscription services and a fix won’t be made available until September 5th.

What is wrong with eBay and their ability to sustain the growth of these once fully functioning entities?  Once a web application company is acquired by a “larger” company, does that mean you should immediately place a higher degree of trust in that company’s long term sustainability and security?   Think of the recent Google acquisition, Grand Central, and their problems with keeping with the “one phone number for life” rule (I’m a Grand Central user who is hoping that the problem doesn’t spread).

Countless companies rely on reasonably secure services such as PayPal and Skype.  Is that wise?

At the end of the day, the true measure of a web app’s security and sustainability is not whether it is acquired by a Google or eBay.  Before switching to a web application such as Skype for VOIP or PayPal for online transactions, it’s important to do your homework, keep backups and always keep an ear to the ground in order to make quick corrections if the web app you are using goes down (even if it is owned by a Fortune 500 company).  Don’t dismiss a great new web app that can augment your business just because it’s a “web2.0″ platform, and don’t assume that an acquisition equates reliability.