Now, adverts in Skype too

So we have ads on the radio, on the TV, on billboards, in newspapers, magazines, stuck on walls and God knows where else. Even the Internet is flooded by them. Usually although, when you pick the phone and call someone, there's just the usual ring that doesn't throw a product at you, unless clearly the person you're calling has a caller tune set. Or, they put you on hold. Same used to apply to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services like Skype.

Well, yes, I said it: "used to". Not anymore. Most of us would remember Microsoft's acquisition of Skype a few months ago. And most us would as well know Microsoft's ability to squeeze out every last bit of revenue from their products and services. Skype's no different. "Today we are announcing the launch of Conversation ads in Skype. These new display ad units will appear within the calling window of users who do not have Skype Credit or subscriptions when they're making 1:1 Skype-to-Skype audio calls using Skype for Windows," writes Sandhya Venkatachalam on Skype's official blog.

What it means is that

What it means is that, when you make a voice-only call on Skype, you'll see an ad at once to your contact's image. I''ll thankfully be mute so that's not too bad. Ads to all appearances won't compromise call quality, which, in my view is mandatory. Opportunely, if you don't want to see the ads, you'll have to subscribe or buy Skype credits. By nature, this is a win-win situation for Microsoft-Skype. Ads generate revenue, so do paying users.

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