Posted on 18 July 2009, at 12:25 pm, by Wayne Schulz

Google Voice is a free service from Google that enables one number access to any of the different phone numbers you use throughout the day. By distributing your single Google Voice number to contacts they always have that one number to reach you at. When they call Google Voice their call is forwarded to any of your “normal” phone numbers (business, office, cell). Behind the scenes of Google Voice you setup special rules so that business contacts only ring to a certain number during a certain time period while family might ring to another during any time period. Currently the service, operating in a closed beta, is completely free. A Patent has however just been filed that shows how Google Voice may present you with targeted advertising based on your location (as well as presumably all that it knows about your Google usage (profile). The patent is described as “A computer-implemented method, comprising:receiving an indication of a telephone call being placed from a calling number;determining an audio advertisement to play; andplaying the audio advertisement prior to a called party answering the telephone call. “
Google Voice Ringback Advertising via Unwired View
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Google Voice shows ringback advertising intent with patent application:
Google Voice is a free service from Goo.. http://bit.ly/4D930l
Google Voice shows ringback advertising intent with patent application http://ff.im/-5oHgk
@hawkeye Actually, making you listen to targeted ads on your phone is exactly what Google has in mind, check this link:
http://bit.ly/5Etm0g
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July 18th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
If I read that correctly, it means that when someone calls me, they will hear a ad played before I answer the phone. I can’t say I’d want that to happen to a call from a business associate.
If it means I would hear an ad before it connected me to my caller…well, that would suck, too.
In either event, I don’t think I’ll be using Google Voice. Google’s just as greedy as the rest of them.
July 19th, 2009 at 5:14 am
I believe that you, the GV user would hear the ad.