Skype To Feature Giant Ads 178
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."
Another conversation sparked by ads (Score:4, Insightful)
"Looks like an advert for some kind of leisure footwear."
"I can see that, but what IS this infernal thing, I mean, like WTF?"
"It seems the Microsoftian overlords of Skype are looking for yet another way to extract value from the working class."
"That's unfortunate."
"yes, it is. I guess we'll just have to find some alternative to Skype now. Fuck. What a pain in the ass."
"No shit."
"And the damnedest thing is they figured the ads would spark conversation on Skype."
"Right. Like I'm going to go on about some ad for Crocks. "Crocks! For when Flip Flops are a bit too formal!"
"See - you just did."
"Oh, FML."
"I think the next conversation is when can we meet again, F2F?"
"When I'm back in town, next week, darling."
"Cool. So, doesn't Apple have some kind of alternative to Skype on the iPad we can use to avoid - LOOK! There's another! I see it as an ad for boil creme. What do you see?"
"Oil. All I see is oil."
"Yeah - well that'll run out soon enough and put an end to all this garbage."
"Not a moment too soon, love. Not a moment too soon."
"I'll check into the Apple angle, and see what we can do. Gotta go - love you!"
"Love you too."
Re:A recent conversation (Score:5, Insightful)
Or, I could spent a fiver, and the ad disappears.
For how long?
Microsoft's most important product: Trouble (Score:0, Insightful)
Only for people already using Apple products.
How long did it take for Microsoft to convert Skype to be a far less attractive product? A few months [microsoft.com], longer than usual. Will Skype become the Zune, the Vista, the Bing, the Ballmer of communication software?
It must be MISERABLE to work at Microsoft, where the most important management rule is to be mediocre. Someone on Skype recently said he had been a POM, Prisoner of Microsoft, until his new job.
We need an open source version of Skype.
Re:A recent conversation (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:A recent conversation (Score:2, Insightful)
The point is, surely, that spending disposable income on an iPhone or Mac is not a preferable option when others exist like, say, moving to Ekiga?
I think the idea that people will say "I don't like ads, but I don't mind spending $1000 on a Mac" is a bit... bonkers.
Re:A recent conversation about closed standards (Score:3, Insightful)
You hit the nail on its head,sir! Congratulations!
Swapping a locked in proprietary solution for another locked in proprietary solution seems like a well thought out strategy.
V long-sighted.