johnser - 1:31 pm on Nov 25, 2005 (gmt 0)

>>>>Will this cost the merchant money?

You betcha - & far more than PPC

>>>>What if it is an 800 number that the merchant provides, will the charge from the phone company still cost the merchant?

Merchant not allowed to provide it.
AFAIK, it'll be a "virtual" number (not sure of correct terminology) but just as Skype had a beta last I looked offering "real" VOIP nos, so Google is likely to get a big block of VOIP nos which will allows them lots of scope to grow.

I met a UK co called "CallGen" at Pubcon in London in Sept and I believe they're currently offering what Google is testing.

The advertiser pays X per call received.
CallGen & the publisher then have a revenue share.

Think it'll be the same with Google. The phone co they use will prob get a tiny % of what Google gets but the volume is likely to be massive once it kicks off.

>>>>Patent Holder
Almost positive this process isn't patented and is unlikely to be?

Incidentally, a US company called ServiceMagic claims that they "screen" calls before passing callers over to the advertisers so as to ensure the advertiser isn't getting billed for spurious calls. However, I tested this 2 months ago and was put straight through to the advertiser & I'm pretty sure he was billed even though I'd no interest in his service..... If Google could manage such a screening process, this would lend massive credibility & would ensure rapid take-up but dunno how feasible it is?