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Comments on news posted 2007-09-24 10:33:40: A new startup named The Pudding is offering users free calls via broadband, if they allow the company's software to "listen" to the conversation and display ads related to what's being discussed. ..

flycuban
join:2005-04-25
Homestead, FL

2 recommendations

flycuban

Member

Really Scary

Thats scary....So lets say Im having phone sex......Umm...Am I gonna get porn? LOL

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Re: Really Scary

said by flycuban:

Thats scary....So lets say Im having phone sex......Umm...Am I gonna get porn? LOL
Hey! You might be on to something there...

DownLow
Nope...I Got Nothing
Premium Member
join:2001-04-25
Long Island

1 recommendation

DownLow

Premium Member

Re: Really Scary

said by dadkins:
said by flycuban:

Thats scary....So lets say Im having phone sex......Umm...Am I gonna get porn? LOL
Hey! You might be on to something there...
So what now..."VOIP is made for Porn?!?!"
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned) to flycuban

Member

to flycuban
OMG, can you imagine the fun with social experimentation that could be had with this?


Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

1 edit

Transmaster

Member

Hmm let's See......

A sausage maker is on his VoIP service talking to his supplier of natural casings for his knackwurst, Franks, and Brat's. Next thing he knows an add for Trojan Natural Lamb condoms appears on his screen.
mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA

mazilo to flycuban

Premium Member

to flycuban
said by flycuban:

Thats scary....So lets say Im having phone sex......Umm...Am I gonna get porn? LOL
If you do, then this is going to go nuts. For instance, when someone mentions the word terrorist on the conversation, then who knows the terrorist, named Usama Bin Laden, will pop up to haunt you!

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Sounds like same type technology used by NSA

The technology listens in for keywords in the conversation and then sends out ads. But the same tech has been used for decades by the NSA(and obviously Israeli intelligence) to listen in to international phone calls and then kick out calls for special attention based on words and phrases used in the conversation.
flycuban
join:2005-04-25
Homestead, FL

flycuban

Member

Re: Sounds like same type technology used by NSA

And so if I use the word penis? Am I gonna get a ad for viagra????

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

2 recommendations

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Sounds like same type technology used by NSA

said by flycuban:

And so if I use the word penis? Am I gonna get a ad for viagra????
Or maybe an ad for Mr Softee soft ice cream trucks.

cabana
Department of Adjustments
Mod
join:2000-07-07
New York, NY

cabana to FFH5

Mod

to FFH5
Oh great another tool to help the art of relating to each other spiral further down the toilet. It is bad enough we are distracted constantly on a cellphone - multi tasking our way through life.

I can see some funny scenarios -- your best friend calls and tells you someone has just died - up comes ads for ... coffins, funeral homes...and estate planning?

I dunno -- while I can appreciate the technology - I think the use is one more step into the surreal world of "pimp my communication".

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

swhx7 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

The technology listens in for keywords in the conversation and then sends out ads. But the same tech has been used for decades by the NSA(and obviously Israeli intelligence) to listen in to international phone calls and then kick out calls for special attention based on words and phrases used in the conversation.

According to the New York Times: "Mr. Maislos founded Pudding Media with his brother, Ruben. Each had spent several years doing intelligence work for the Israeli military."

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Thanks but....

No thanks. Not only do I find the company name to be silly, I don't like the idea of this at all.

cork1958
Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26

1 recommendation

cork1958

Premium Member

Re: Thanks but....

said by ptrowski:

No thanks. Not only do I find the company name to be silly, I don't like the idea of this at all.
Ditto here!!

swhx7
Premium Member
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

swhx7 to ptrowski

Premium Member

to ptrowski
You're probably expressing the view of the majority.

Not just removing privacy, but using what you say to annoy you. I can't believe many will subscribe to this. What were they thinking?
jniamehr
Premium Member
join:2003-10-09
Roslyn, NY

jniamehr

Premium Member

Give these guys some credit

They are doing something very interesting, and a great medium for advertisers to spend their money. The consumer is benefiting as well.
Sniper3142
Slapsho3142
join:2002-01-25
Tustin, CA

Sniper3142

Member

Re: Give these guys some credit

Speaking of credit...

What if I'm talking about personal or private information. Do I really want some software application listening in to what is said in hopes of selling me something pertaining to it?

Not only NO, but HELL NO!

I'll pass thank you.
The Way Out
join:2003-01-20

The Way Out

Member

Re: Give these guys some credit

If you're talking about something private or personal, don't use this service. It's that simple.
Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA

Ahrenl to Sniper3142

Member

to Sniper3142
Of course, that assumes some computer isn't listening already.

MrMoody
Free range slave
Premium Member
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC

MrMoody

Premium Member

The proof is in ...

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

huntermcdole
Premium Member
join:2005-08-01
Oxnard, CA

huntermcdole

Premium Member

Re: The proof is in ...

yeah, yeah.... All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

pokesph
It Is Almost Fast
Premium Member
join:2001-06-25
Sacramento, CA

pokesph

Premium Member

Re: The proof is in ...

said by huntermcdole:

yeah, yeah.... All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
.. we don't need no advertisements! ..

huntermcdole
Premium Member
join:2005-08-01
Oxnard, CA

huntermcdole

Premium Member

Re: The proof is in ...

So in other words you do need advertisements :P

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

scary

creepy.

might as well send formal invitations for the NSA/AT&T and Israeli intelligence to spy on me full time.

what type of idiots will buy into this?

chRoniX10
Peace sells, but who's buying?
Premium Member
join:2004-05-22
Chatsworth, CA

chRoniX10

Premium Member

Re: scary

I'm waiting for the Beta version. I think it's a great idea. If you're not talking about anything personal or sensitive then who gives a shit if they send you an AD. I see AD's on almost every website nowadays so who cares if there's more.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: scary

said by morbo:

what type of idiots will buy into this?
said by chRoniX10:

I think it's a great idea.

chRoniX10
Peace sells, but who's buying?
Premium Member
join:2004-05-22
Chatsworth, CA

chRoniX10

Premium Member

Re: scary

said by morbo:
said by morbo:

what type of idiots will buy into this?
said by chRoniX10:

I think it's a great idea.

Yes your smiley faces definitely explains why this is a such a terrible idea...
ossito16
join:2004-07-31
Whiting, IN

ossito16

Member

Backdoor into public lives

"The company insists they don't keep records of what keywords were triggered during conversation."
Puddmedia may say THEY do not keep records but they did not say it is impossible. Whoever they license to may keep records for spam mail purposes. This may allow govt agencies a backdoor into spying on citizens w/o subpoena. Whoever uses this and gets busted for something based on there conversation is not the issue. It is when someone starts talking about someone else. Imagine a huge insurance company buys a huge part of Vonage to bypass any 3rd part EULA crap. Now they have access to what is goin behind closed doors. Who is sick, family history, etc. This is very bad.
cableman0327
join:2004-10-10
Westminster, MD

cableman0327

Member

1st Clue, To stay away

- "The company's founders, brothers Ariel and Ruben Maislos, both spent time doing intelligence work for the Israeli military."

jhebert121
join:2002-06-03
Traskwood, AR

jhebert121

Member

Their listening anyway

I figure the government is already listening in on every conversation going on right now. So what is the difference between using your paid phone, which the government is listening to anyway, and using a free phone, which the company tells you to your face your phone is being listened too?

PolarBear03
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium Member
join:2005-01-03

PolarBear03

Premium Member

Re: Their listening anyway

DAMN good point. It's kind of like free Vaseline.

PhoenixDown
FIOS is Awesome
Premium Member
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY

PhoenixDown

Premium Member

Eavesdropping?

A lot of states (not all) require that the other party be notified is a call is being monitored or recorded... so how does that work if the party you are calling isn't using this service? Are they breaching any laws?

On a side note: Is anyone comfortable with the fact that google and other companies are scanning your emails for contextual advertisements?

•••••••
zenafu
join:2007-06-12
Brooklyn, NY

zenafu

Member

Not by the hairs...

My initial response to this was, "the balls on these guys!" but then an ad popped up for testicular hair removal so I figured I'd just stop thinking about this issue for now.

Scatcatpdx
Fur It Up
join:2007-06-22
Portland, OR

Scatcatpdx

Member

Where do we get these clowns

What happen to the day when entrepreneurs created a business to make money by selling a product? The fee content ad generated revenue model is fools gold.

commbunch
join:2007-06-25
Hampshire, IL

commbunch

Member

Free Calls

I am going to give this a try. I may not call the credit card company with this service, but it might be fun to call someone with twisted humor talk about all sorts of stuff. Maybe I'll speak of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons (and how Iraq had none of them.) I'll throw in a bit about Osama Bin Ladin and war criminal Bush and see what that flags. I'll probably get ads for toilet bowl cleaner, microwaves and anti-terrorism cream.

The_Dan2
@shawcable.net

The_Dan2

Anon

not too bad

I don't see a huge problem here. They're telling you that your calls will go through their software and it will be matched with advertising. You in turn will be able to make free phone calls. Not a bad deal really. You gotta be an idiot to talk about personal/banking information through that sort of a medium at all.

PolarBear03
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium Member
join:2005-01-03

PolarBear03

Premium Member

Re: not too bad

said by The_Dan2 :

You gotta be an idiot to talk about personal/banking information through that sort of a medium at all.
You've gotta be an idiot to talk about personal/banking information on ANY electronic media. Cell phone signals can be picked up and decrypted, wirelines can be tapped, cordless phones can be listened in on, and the NSA is ALWAYS listening, yet people divulge personal and financial information over these mediums all the time.

What's the worst that will happen with this service? You'll be talking to your bank or credit card company and see ads for free checking, home mortgages, and credit cards.

jjoshua
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ

jjoshua

Premium Member

One small flaw

Does it only recognize English?

Foreign language speakers are going to put the service out of business with free calls and no advertisements.

SofSpoken
@uslec.net

SofSpoken

Anon

maybe the road department can take a cue from this

Have the advertisers along the highway pay for repaving.

OR, maybe magazines....
free subscriptions based on the revenue made from ads (oh wait, we HAVE this already)

OR, maybe auto repairs
because we allow GoodYear to put their name on the tires so everyone can read them, the vehicle owner is targeted with ads for brake shoes and hub caps that will compliment the tires.

it goes on and on. things we accept along the way also reveal information about us. 20-30 years ago, it was never an issue, since data was stored on paper, and if not files and/or collated, tossed after a reasonable amount of time. With computers, data stored today will be there at the end of the next millennium.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

Poop, frap-frap-frap,ploop...........ah!

Your mic' picks up the sound of a Pinto bean skid mark maxi blaster, and instantly you have a ad' posted for this.......

»www.under-tec.com/index.php

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx

Premium Member

Maybe Bill Cosby should be their spokesperson

»www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· e37YjKPc
sunset0
join:2007-07-19
Knoxville, TN

sunset0

Member

I may try it.

I don't speak English with my friends.
But i am not sure about the voice quality since they provide web(?) based softphone.