Google Shows Off Ad-Supported Cell Phone

taoman1 writes "Today Google showed off a ad-supported cellphone that the company plans to offer for free to interested parties. The product could reach the marketplace within a year, and will offer Google search, email, and a web browser. 'The move would echo another recent product launched by a phone industry outsider, Apple Inc.'s iPhone. But Google's product would draw its revenue from a sharply different source, relying on commercial advertising dollars instead of the sticker price of at least US$499 for an iPhone and $60 per month for the AT&T Inc. service plan. Negotiating the fairest way to split those advertising revenues with service providers could be a big hurdle for Google, one analyst said. Another problem is the potential that consumers could be scared off by the prospect of listening to advertisements before being able to make phone calls, said Jeff Kagan, a wireless and telecommunications industry analyst in Atlanta.'"

The voice version of AdSense?

[l33t.g33k]

I sure hope that those ads won't be targeted based on one's conversations, like they are on Gmail. That would be extremely scary.

But does it run...

[sakdoctor]

Adblock?

not scary enough

[datapharmer]

No, scary would be if the party you called got to hear the ads too. Imagine the chaos it could cause if some spam style advert comes on in the middle of your business meeting!

you: Increase sales and....the size of your penis with cialis... by reaching out to new demographics....
pointy-haired boss: like women???

Re:listen to ads?

[blantonl]

I can think of tons of ads that folks that "could not afford a cellphone" would "benefit" from:

1. Bail Bondsman
2. Liquor Stores
3. Liquor
4. Beer
5. Prostitution
6. Check Cashing Stores

The list could go on and on. Where there is a consumer, any type of consumer, there is an advertiser just waiting to get their attention.

Re:The voice version of AdSense?

[dotpavan]

and God forbid if one mis-pronounces something, there would be a voice in a condescending tone with the "did you mean..?" question

Irony...

[whisper_jeff]

Irony is that I had to watch an ad when I clicked the link...

Re:listen to ads?

[Eric52902]

Tell me that when you're listening to an Enzyte commercial after the crash.

Apply directly to the nearest insane asylum

[Dogtanian]

Whenever I dial someone, it usually rings a couple times before they answer. Instead of listening to the ringing sound, perhaps they'll have you listen to an ad instead?

You mean something short and snappy that directly replaces the "ring ring"? Hmm...
(Taps number in).

(Pause).

"Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!"
"Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!"
"Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!"
"Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!"
"Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!"

(Two minutes later)

"Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!"
"Head on! Apply direc.... Hello?"
"If you ever take that long to reply to your phone again, I swear I will kill you."

contextual ads?

[Trailer Trash]

Call 911 and hear/see an ad from an injury lawyer.

Re:listen to ads?

[aichpvee]

I'll take TWO if I can load adblock on it.

Re:listen to ads?

[JimDaGeek]

Caller: dials 9-1-1
Phone: brrrring....brrring...brrring
Recorded Ad: "Hello"
Caller: "911! I cut off my finger!!!"
Recorded Ad: "How are you!?"
Caller: "I cut off my farking finger!!!! OMG!"
Recorded Ad: Great!
Caller: "WTF?"br Recorded Ad: "We have the solution just for you. Come on down to Bob's Burgers, Suds and Tractor repair. Remember, our motto is, "if yins tractor costs more dan yours double-wide, well, Bob's is da place".

Re:Pictures?

[Anonymous Coward]

> This article is useless without pics

ADHD strikes again...

``Useless''? As in, as useless as a blank page?
As in, it cnoveys no information whatsoever? I
think you're lying.

I guess you find books pretty ``useless'' , what
with all that text and no pictures?