Skype To Feature Giant Ads

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Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @09:23AM from the when-advertising-departments-attack dept.

benfrog writes "Skype will be introducing a new 'feature' into calls for users don't have subscriptions or credit. Giant ads. They are actually calling them 'Conversation ads' because they hope the ads (as large as the picture of the person to whom you are speaking) will 'spark additional topics of conversation that are relevant to Skype users and highlight unique and local brand experiences.' The ads, of course, are tailored to each individual user, though there is an opt-out for that."

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A recent conversation by Anonymous Coward · 2012-06-13 09:24 · Score: 5, Funny

What the fuck is up with this fucking ad and how the fuck do I get rid of it?
1. Re:A recent conversation by PeanutButterBreath · 2012-06-13 09:32 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  - What? What ad are you seeing?
  - Its some damned ad for. . . [cash register sound effect]
2. Re:A recent conversation by ozmanjusri · 2012-06-13 10:19 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Or, I could spent a fiver, and the ad disappears.
  For how long?
  
  --
  "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
Can't Wait by Phoenixlol · 2012-06-13 09:26 · Score: 5, Funny

"they hope the ads (as large as the picture of the person to whom you are speaking) will 'spark additional topics of conversation that are relevant to Skype users and highlight unique and local brand experiences" Hey, Grandma, what do you think of hot singles near me?
1. Re:Can't Wait by CanHasDIY · 2012-06-13 09:28 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "Mommy, why do I always see Valtrex ads when I call daddy during his business trips?"
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
2. Re:Can't Wait by Genda · 2012-06-13 09:49 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Because he was able to block the Cialis ads...
3. Re:Can't Wait by kpainter · 2012-06-13 09:51 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  This is slashdot. There won't be hot singles ads flashing up on the folks that hang out here. There will be ads for "Fleshlight" popping up.
4. Re:Can't Wait by cpu6502 · 2012-06-13 10:09 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I'm afraid to ask:
  - What's a "flesh" light? Some kind of glowing clit ring?
  
  --
  My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
5. Re:Can't Wait by __aaeihw9960 · 2012-06-13 10:14 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  God I hope you're joking. If you are not, welcome to the internet; wondrous sights await you!
6. Re:Can't Wait by bryan1945 · 2012-06-13 11:14 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  He's too busy configuring his 30 Linux boxes to actually do anything useful.
  
  --
  Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
Marketing.... by Sparticus789 · 2012-06-13 09:26 · Score: 4, Funny

Marketing department: They are not ads, they are conversation starters. Therefore you should read every one, click on them, purchase something from the site, then talk to your friend on Skype about how great they are!

--
sudo make me a sandwich
monty python did it first by fche · 2012-06-13 09:26 · Score: 5, Funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkp7f8IxJNU
See, This Shit is Why by CanHasDIY · 2012-06-13 09:32 · Score: 4, Funny

The Prophet consistently referred to those in marketing as "the biggest suckers of Satan's cock"

By the way if anyone here is in advertising or marketing kill yourself.

No, no, no it’s just a little thought. I’m just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day, they’ll take root – I don’t know. You try, you do what you can. Kill yourself.

Seriously though, if you are, do.

Aaah, no really, there’s no rationalisation for what you do and you are Satan’s little helpers. Okay – kill yourself – seriously. You are the ruiner of all things good, seriously. No this is not a joke, you’re going, “there’s going to be a joke coming,” there’s no fucking joke coming. You are Satan’s spawn filling the world with bile and garbage. You are fucked and you are fucking us. Kill yourself. It’s the only way to save your fucking soul, kill yourself.

Planting seeds. I know all the marketing people are going, “he’s doing a joke” there’s no joke here whatsoever. Suck a tail-pipe, fucking hang yourself, borrow a gun from a Yank friend – I don’t care how you do it. Rid the world of your evil fucking makinations. Machi Whatever, you know what I mean.

I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too, “Oh, you know what Bill’s doing, he’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market, he’s very smart.”

Oh man, I am not doing that. You fucking evil scumbags!

“Ooh, you know what Bill’s doing now, he’s going for the righteous indignation dollar. That’s a big dollar. A lot of people are feeling that indignation. We’ve done research – huge market. He’s doing a good thing.”

Godammit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags! Quit putting a godamm dollar sign on every fucking thing on this planet!

“Ooh, the anger dollar. Huge. Huge in times of recession. Giant market, Bill’s very bright to do that.”

God, I’m just caught in a fucking web.

“Ooh the trapped dollar, big dollar, huge dollar. Good market – look at our research. We see that many people feel trapped. If we play to that and then separate them into the trapped dollar”

How do you live like that? And I bet you sleep like fucking babies at night, don’t you?

“What didya do today honey?”

“Oh, we made ah, we made ah arsenic a childhood food now, goodnight.” [snores] “Yeah we just said you know is your baby really too loud? You know?” [snores] “Yeah, you know the mums will love it.” [snores]

Sleep like fucking children, don’t ya, this is your world isn’t it?
- Bill Hicks, 1961-1992

Thank $deity Bill isn't around to see this shit...

--
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Re:Ad Muncher blocks skype ads. by MrHanky · 2012-06-13 09:48 · Score: 5, Funny

It didn't block your comment, though.
Where's the encryption? by White+Flame · 2012-06-13 10:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

Isn't Skype supposed to be encrypted between the end users? Of course, that claim has always been in a "Trust us, we're trustable!" framing, but if this listens to your text & voice comms in order to select ads, that finally does confirm that there is absolutely no privacy on Skype.
1. Re:Where's the encryption? by postglock · 2012-06-13 12:13 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Nowhere does it say they will listen in to your conversations. From TFA, "We may use non-personally identifiable demographic information (e.g. location, gender and age) to target ads."
Re:Ad Muncher blocks skype ads. by desdinova+216 · 2012-06-13 10:17 · Score: 4, Informative

here at slashdot we tend to be highly suspicious of anything that looks like an advertisment thanks to people who post Irellevant comments mention a certain piece of software.
Re:A recent conversation about closed standards by Technician · 2012-06-13 10:25 · Score: 5, Informative

You can use Skype if you wish. Somehow I see alternatives gaining traction.
SIP protocol for VOIP supports video from several vendors for free. Some SIP providers provide free VOIP gateways to/from Skype and Google Talk.
You can ring my POTS phone plugged into a SIP ATA (analog telephone adaptor) suchas a Linksys PAP2T from Skype, Google Talk, SIP, or a plain POTS phone for free. No ads, no Skype-In expense. I call all of US and Canada for free dialing with Google Talk. No cost for Skype out.
Other than the optional Linksys box purchase, the calls are free.
SIP provider with free Skype gateway - ippi.fr
Free US DID number for free in calls from POTS - IPKall
Free calling to US and Canada linked to IPKall number and SIP -- Google Voice (limited locations)
Free SIP softphone for Linux as an alternate to the Linksys box - Ekiga.net or Twinkle.
Why pay for Skype-in or out minutes? Ads are optional.

--
The truth shall set you free!
Re:A recent conversation about closed standards by bryan1945 · 2012-06-13 11:12 · Score: 5, Funny

Yeah, that will be so easy for my family and friends to figure out how to implement. Maybe I should just dig a dedicate landline to all their houses while I'm at it.

--
Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
Re:It's like they're reading my mind by Tough+Love · 2012-06-13 12:54 · Score: 4, Funny

What's more fascinating than discussing ads?
Squirting a Zune track?

--
When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
Re:Ad Muncher blocks skype ads. by TranquilVoid · 2012-06-13 15:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Exactly, that's I love and recommend Linux. It's open source so Linux is trustworthy. It even comes with a 'true' program.
Linux, for all your software needs.