Coming Soon To A Phone Near You: In-Call Ads

[Des_Lab]

Seriously. Who thinks this is a good idea? Obviously marketers. But most of them live in a Fantasy World of focus groups and PowerPoint templates. For those of us in the real word, we are already so bombarded with advertising that we learn to tune ALL of it out. These "brilliant ideas" not only annoy the hell out of me, but are totally lost efforts as well.

This can create a great opportunity for any phone provider who wants to capitalize on the inevitable backlash: phone calls with NO ads.

Un-flippin-believable.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/14/tec...eads.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008011504

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DL-No gray areas=no gray matter

 

[meggy]

Yikes. Article says: "Customers will opt into the service, and in exchange for listening to a 15-second clip, they'll earn credits that will offset their phone bills".

Optional to start. Standardized in the future whether you want it or not. Then like you say: "inevitable backlash: phone calls with NO ads", whole new spin-off market.

Interesting for sure. Can't wait. Hmmm, what about pop up ads on I-phone screens while you wait for a call to connect?

 

[Web Police]

It doesn't surpise me at all. We already have LCD screens here with advertising in all the restroom stalls at bars and restaurants as well as on the pumps at the gas stations.

 

[MRX37]

Reason #128 why my cell phone is the cheapest, simplist modern day phone I could buy. It's a monochrome text only screen. I'd love to see them try to feed that ads.

Also, it's a prepaid phone, so no contracts to get roped into.

 

[mwr885]

Over here in Japan, ads are everywhere! any free space on buildings, everywhere. I find it to be overwhelming but if must work if they keep doing it. I fear america is heading to the same level or worse that japan already has.

 

[thedelihaus]

These programs are aimed at helping the businesses and not in keeping the consumers happy.

We're currently experiencing analogue cable dropping channels to the tune of 2-5 channels a month. My father's current analogue cable service cost $37, the cheapest digital will cost us $53/$57+.

Analogue broadcasting is gone Feb. 2009. This will confuse many. I imagine most folk will opt for the cable over the converter box.

I believe it is IBM working on a "forced commercial" DVD technology, integrating commercials into your DVD and not allowing the fast-forward button to work during it.

Hotmail, Lycos and other mail services require more steps, more pages to get to the meat of your account. Same thing for MySpace and other networking sites.

And with lobbyists already fighting the gov. on cell phone restrictions in cars, it's only a matter of time before video screens, already playing DVDs in backs of minivans and cars, finally are allowed (legally) in the front seat, and start receiving broadcasting and commercials.

I'd not be surprised if at some point you start your car and are welcomed to a 15 second advert as the car warms up.

 

[jhal]

These programs are aimed at helping the businesses and not in keeping the consumers happy.

We're currently experiencing analogue cable dropping channels to the tune of 2-5 channels a month. My father's current analogue cable service cost $37, the cheapest digital will cost us $53/$57+.

Analogue broadcasting is gone Feb. 2009. This will confuse many. I imagine most folk will opt for the cable over the converter box.

I believe it is IBM working on a "forced commercial" DVD technology, integrating commercials into your DVD and not allowing the fast-forward button to work during it.

Hotmail, Lycos and other mail services require more steps, more pages to get to the meat of your account. Same thing for MySpace and other networking sites.

And with lobbyists already fighting the gov. on cell phone restrictions in cars, it's only a matter of time before video screens, already playing DVDs in backs of minivans and cars, finally are allowed (legally) in the front seat, and start receiving broadcasting and commercials.

I'd not be surprised if at some point you start your car and are welcomed to a 15 second advert as the car warms up.

Yeah, I can just imagine it. Say your car is low on fuel or needs some maintenance, all of the sudden, ads pop up on the GPS/media screen promoting service and fuel specials. I solved the ad problem with my Yahoo and AOL email by setting up my Outlook Express to sync with them. The only reason I have AOL mail is because it is an old Netscape address that I have had for several years and AOL took it over. I hate AOL.

 

[thedelihaus]

Yeah, I can just imagine it. Say your car is low on fuel or needs some maintenance, all of the sudden, ads pop up on the GPS/media screen promoting service and fuel specials...

On-star already informs you when service like an oil change is soon needed, and I've read where a company, possibly On-Star, will even schedule your appointment automatically with the dealer if you'd like.

 

[jhal]

On-star already informs you when service like an oil change is soon needed, and I've read where a company, possibly On-Star, will even schedule your appointment automatically with the dealer if you'd like.

I guess that's not too bad. They are just getting us lubed up for the next wave of "smart" ads though. Like when you pass by a McDonald's and all of the sudden specials pop up on the screen "For the next 10 minutes at this location only!!". Hopefully stuff like that will have a tight leash put on it in the name of driver distraction.

 

[thedelihaus]

...Hopefully stuff like that will have a tight leash put on it in the name of driver distraction.

One would hope, but with the growing instances of accidents due to cell phones, and now even more, web browsing on cell phones while driving or text messaging on cell phones while driving, I doubt it.

I remember, before my own personal car accident, witnessing an increase in accidents on the roadway that coincided with the large increase of cell-phone users. Made me pretty nervous when I was out on the motorcycle, and indeed resulted in a few issues whilst in the car.

 

[jhal]

Yep, see it on a daily basis down here too. As far as the ads go, I don't know if there is much we can do about it, other than boycotting the products shoved down our throats and the media companies whoring us out. I have a "smartphone" which is ripe for this kind of BS. I guess time will tell.

 

[emoxley]

Every one of them that calls me will be cussed out, if there's a person.

AT&T and Peppertree Resorts (timeshare), kept calling us, until I threatened to file a complaint of harassment, with the state attorney general's office. I never heard from them again.........

 

[andy]

I won't go to gas stations with ad screens if I can possibly avoid it, even if it means paying more.