I had web-tv for several years. I actually kept it after I got a computer because of the large volume of email that I wanted to forward.
And I don't know if there was more than one type, BK, but mine was definitely connected to the phone line. I had call waiting so if a call came in while I was on web-tv, it would automatically disconnect (the web-tv).
And funny you should mention ebay, BK, because I remember that I would get a notice saying "the page is too big to show" or something like that while I was on ebay. It was very frustrating.