Company Will Monitor Phone Calls to Tailor Ads

[Nomad559]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/business/media/24adcol.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

http://www.thepudding.com

Companies like Google scan their e-mail users’ in-boxes to deliver ads related to those messages. Will people be as willing to let a company listen in on their phone conversations to do the same?

Pudding Media, a start-up based in San Jose, Calif., is introducing an Internet phone service today that will be supported by advertising related to what people are talking about in their calls. The Web-based phone service is similar to Skype’s online service — consumers plug a headset and a microphone into their computers, dial any phone number and chat away. But unlike Internet phone services that charge by the length of the calls, Pudding Media offers calling without any toll charges.

The trade-off is that Pudding Media is eavesdropping on phone calls in order to display ads on the screen that are related to the conversation. Voice recognition software monitors the calls, selects ads based on what it hears and pushes the ads to the subscriber’s computer screen while he or she is still talking.

[rucky]

1. So THAT'S how the NSA does it!

voice recognition software. duh!

And to think we're probaby paying to have our calls listened in on, when we could have it done to us for free.

Sign me up!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. Saw this here yesterday and couldn't find an appropriate response beyond stunned.

This needs exposure, I'll give it shot...it's sad how many people are asking to be programmed, to be told their likes, dislikes, where they should go, what they should do, and the directions come from those who are profiting directly.

MKJ

[The Vinyl Ripper]

3. LOL

I doubt they are going to have many ads based on the things I like to talk about.

And besides, I automatically do the opposite of what the ads say. I've never clicked on an ad and I've been online since before there was an internet.