VoIP ads while you wait

Users of VoIP operator Jajah [1] will be able to opt-in to an advertising voice service from the end of this month and earn credits and cash while using the phone.The ads will come from an advertising network Oridian Online Media Solutions [2] and earnings from an audio ad played while the call is being initiated are shared between the user and Jajah and credited to the user's account.

Billed as "The Worlds First Voice 2.0 Advertising Network" the ads will be played during the ring tone period and will be targeted at consumers interests and locations.

"We spend more time on the phone than consuming all other types of media, TV, reading papers and radio included. However, advertisers spend very little budget advertising on telephone calls--phones haven't been considered as a viable channel yet. We are going to change that," said Jajah co-founder, and Austrian executive, Roman Scharf.

"In tests over the past months we have identified a method to overlay advertising content on phone calls in a way that users find acceptable. We turned it into an open platform so that everyone can benefit. Consumers get a better deal and telecommunications companies monetize their inventory."

"Google paved the way around a decade ago with Google AdWords. Their approach was revolutionary, as they respected the users' common sense and reactions. We are now trying to do the same for the massive amount of phone call inventory. Think AdWords for the phone."

Many observers have seen in-call advertising as the inevitable next stage in Jajah's evolution, as it promises highly targeted, real-time promotional opportunities for advertisers. Meanwhile Reuters has reported Jajah founder co-founder Roman Scharf saying it has postponed its IPO. Jajah is backed by heavyweights including Intel, Deutsch Telekom as well as venture capitalists Sequoia Capital and Globespan Capital.

For More:
- Jajah announcement of its VoIP advertising [3] service
- Jajah Advertising site [4]
- Vnunet's report [5]

Related Articles:
- Jajah was one of our 2006 Top VoIP companies [6] 
- Jajah threatens telecom landscape [7]