Ads in Skype

[Renegade]

Well, I suppose it couldn't last forever... More ads coming to Skype. Guess MS needs to pay off that hefty $8 billion bill.

http://venturebeat.com/2012/06/13/skype-conversation-ads/

Skype is pushing ads into the conversation view, basically forcing its users to take in a little commercial content with each call they make.

The company said it’s personalizing the content and is hoping you’ll even discuss it with your friends while you talk. They’re even calling the new inventory “Conversation Ads.”

Here’s how I imagine that “conversation” going down:

“Hi, Dude, are you coming to bowling practice… Wait, what the [expletive deleted]?”

“What’s wrong, Walter?”

“Dude, there’s a huge ad right next to your face now.”

“What are you talking about, Walter?”

“It’s a [expletive deleted] ad for something called ‘Pleasure Hunt 2,’ and it’s right next to your face.”

“Walter, what the [expletive deleted] are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about unchecked commercialism, Dude.”

“Just take it easy, Walter. You don’t even pay for Skype. If you did, they probably wouldn’t be showing you ads.”

I actually pay, so I won't see them for now...

[KynloStephen66515]

Who seriously sits staring at that screen whilst talking anyway?  Personally I minimize and get on with what I was doing.

[Shades]

The ones who use Skype for video conferencing?

[TaoPhoenix]

"Hi Renegade! You coming to practice at Joe's Bowling before 6PM to take advantage of the Early Bird String for only $2? That other soft drink machine is down so let's get a nice cold delicious Pepsi Next, because it only has 10 grams of sugar but the same Pepsi taste! "

Oh wait - that's the Truman Show.

[SeraphimLabs]

They aren't going to give up about getting as much money as they possibly can from anyone willing to suffer through it.

Seriously want to just start host file redirecting the ad providers that see fit to intrude into content other than basic web stuff.

[KynloStephen66515]

"Hi Renegade! You coming to practice at Joe's Bowling before 6PM to take advantage of the Early Bird String for only $2? That other soft drink machine is down so let's get a nice cold delicious Pepsi Next, because it only has 10 grams of sugar but the same Pepsi taste! "

Oh wait - that's the Truman Show.

[off topic]
My Favorite Movie!
[/off topic]

[TaoPhoenix]

Meanwhile on the mobile version of skype, are there still ads? (IS there a mobile version?) Because Mobile is getting nasty bandwidth caps, and ads are getting big and bulky lately.

[Renegade]

Meanwhile on the mobile version of skype, are there still ads? (IS there a mobile version?) Because Mobile is getting nasty bandwidth caps, and ads are getting big and bulky lately.

I forget what I was using and when, but I've seen mobile video ads. WTF?!? I don't really use my phone much at all anymore now that I have a tablet, so I don't know if they're more popular now or what.

Give 'em a new toy and watch 'em abuse it... sigh... 

[nudone]

Just wait until they start analysing the audio content of your conversation and then start interrupting with their synthesised audio ads; you know that's got to be on the drawing board.

[Renegade]

Just wait until they start analysing the audio content of your conversation and then start interrupting with their synthesised audio ads; you know that's got to be on the drawing board.

Audio analysis is already being done. It's just a matter of time before it's monetized. At the moment it's only to snoop on you.

[nudone]

I try my best to only speak in tongues when on the phone, only the angels can track me then.  

Which would also make a perfect encryption method, wouldn't it?

[Shades]

@nudone:
Same trick as the US Navy pulled in WWII (Navaho Indians were used as radio operators, because their language is hard to decipher).

Ah well, it sounds like security through obscurity...   

[nudone]

@nudone:
Same trick as the US Navy pulled in WWII (Navaho Indians were used as radio operators, because their language is hard to decipher).

Ah well, it sounds like security through obscurity...   

Ah right, i'd heard of that but didn't know the reason why.

[Tuxman]

Simple solution: Use SIP instead.

[yksyks]

Maybe it's time to switch to ooVoo. Didn't try it by myself, but some of my friends are quite happy with it. So far free (with 12-way video chat, instant messaging & more)—until some other giant buys them as well...

Any experiences here?