Abstract: Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.

Abstract: Methods and systems for converting a call generated from an advertisement. One embodiment includes: establishing a real time communication connection between a first entity and a second entity via a communication reference embedded in an advertisement that is presented on behalf of the second entity; billing the second entity for the advertisement in response to the communication connection being established via the communication reference; monitoring the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; and charging the first entity, on behalf of the second entity, for communications with the second entity over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections for partners based on communication references assigned to entities maintained by the partners. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from a partner contact information of an entity; providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc., and/or non-real time communication, such as email. In one embodiment, a method includes: a first party providing one or more references to a second party for distribution to customers, the one or more references capable of being used to request the first party to provide a plurality of communication connections to a communicatee, the plurality of communication connections being connected simultaneously to the communicatee at least for a period of time; and the first party charging separate fees for the plurality of communication connections.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the performance is determined via tracking the communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement to customers on behalf of a specific party; counting voice-based communication leads that are delivered via advertisements; and charging the party based at least partially on said counting the communication leads. In one embodiment, a bulk price is charged for delivering a predetermined number of one or more leads resulting from the presentation of an advertisement and/or for other services.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide access to advertisement database through an application programming interface. One embodiment includes receiving a request according to an application program interface over a network connection; and in response to the request, providing at least a portion of an advertisement according to the application programming interface. The advertisement is designed to generate communication leads for a party; and the party is to be charged for the advertisement according to a count of communication leads generated for the party via the advertisement.

Abstract: A method and system of advertising. In response to a request received from an advertiser, an audio advertisement is generated based on visual advertisement information. The audio advertisement is provided for presentation on behalf of the advertiser. In one embodiment, the audio advertisement is an abbreviated form of the visual advertisement information. A determination is made as to whether a call from a customer has been connected to the advertiser via the audio advertisement. The advertiser is charged a predefined fee if it is determined that a call from a customer has been connected to the advertiser via the audio advertisement. In one embodiment, a text for a first advertisement presentable in a first media type is received to generate an abbreviated text for a second advertisement presentable in a second media type.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect telephone calls and track information about the telephone calls resulting from advertisements for groups of advertisers. In one embodiment, a method includes: a telephone-based directory receiving a telephone call from a mobile device; and providing an advertisement of a visual form to the mobile device in response to the telephone call, the advertisement to include a communication reference to be used by the mobile device to communicate with an advertiser; where the advertiser is to be billed for the advertisement in response to an initiation of a communication between the mobile device and the advertiser via the communication reference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect telephone calls and track information about the telephone calls resulting from advertisements for groups of advertisers. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a telephone call at a second telephone number from a caller; connecting the telephone call to a first telephone number of a first entity who provides a price bid for a phone lead to be directed to the first telephone number of the first entity; where the first entity is to be billed for the telephone call connected to the first telephone number according to the price bid in response to a determination that the telephone is not a repeated telephone call from the caller to the first entity within a time period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to track keywords used for matching advertisements that provide references to make calls for real time communications. One embodiment includes: selecting an advertisement based on a condition; providing a reference for presentation with the advertisement, to identify the condition and the advertisement; and charging an advertisement fee in response to a call via the reference for a real time communication session.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to selectively prompt customers in connecting the customers to advertisers via communication references provided advertisements. One embodiment includes: establishing a communication connection with a customer, the connection being initiated by the customer using a communication reference provided in an advertisement; determining a prompt to the customer to identify an advertiser of the advertisement, based at least in part on the communication reference; and connecting the communication connection to the advertiser.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to select tracking mechanisms for the performance determination of advertisements. One embodiment includes: selecting one reference type from a plurality of reference types; and determining a reference of the selected type, the reference to be embedded in an advertisement to count communication leads generated from the advertisement. In one embodiment, the advertisement is to be charged according to a performance measure based on communication leads generated from the advertisement. For example, a price for the advertisement can be specified by a party for which the advertisement is to be presented. For example, the advertisement can be charged in response to a voice communication responding to the advertisement. In one embodiment, the plurality of reference types correspond to different mechanisms to track communication leads generated from the advertisement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to present advertisements on mobile devices for communication connections of multiple content types. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing an advertisement to a mobile device, the advertisement to include a communication reference to be used by the mobile device to request a communication connection; and billing for the advertisement in response to an initiation of a communication, comprising more than one of text, voice, audio, image, and video, via the communication reference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide access to manage advertisements which provide references usable to request real time communication connections. One embodiment includes receiving a request according to an application programming interface over a network connection; and providing access to manage an advertisement of an advertiser via the application programming interface in response to the request (e.g., to create, update, query, delete the advertisement, such as a pay per call advertisement). In one embodiment, the advertisement is to be embedded with a real time communication reference assigned to the advertiser; the real-time communication reference is to be used to request a real time communication connection with the advertiser; and the advertiser is to be charged for communication leads generated via the real-time communication reference embedded in the advertisement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for specifying and obtaining services through audio commands, resulting in a live conversation between a user and a selected service provider using an audio-transmission medium (the telephone). A service seeker locates a service provider by entering a keypad code corresponding to a field of service or by speaking the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system. The seeker can then specify, via voice or keypad entry, a price range, quality rating, language, and keyword descriptors of the service provider, such as a service provider code number. In response, the system offers currently available service providers. Once an available service provider is selected, the system connects the service seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. The system bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider accordingly.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide a reference for communication with a business is disclosed here. One embodiment includes providing a reference for real-time communication with a business to be placed in a representation of a geographical region at a location within the representation corresponding to a location of the business, tracking usage of the reference, and billing the business for providing the reference for real-time communication based on quantitative usage of the reference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sorting seller listings or advertisements of a seller network. One embodiment includes: determining an indicator of potential revenue that is expected to be generated from presentation of advertisements, based on statistical data indicating performance of the advertisements; and presenting one or more of the advertisements based at least partially on the indicator of potential revenue.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate the management of multiple pay for performance advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: generating a user interface to show a plurality of advertisements simultaneously and to allow editing of any of the plurality of advertisements; and updating an advertisement database according to input received in the user interface. In one embodiment, the each advertisement of the plurality of advertisements is charged for according to a price bid in response to a communication lead generated from the advertisement. In one embodiment, the plurality of advertisements are selected from advertisements of more than one user.

Abstract: Systems and methods to determine prices for communication leads generated from pay for performance advertisements. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing an advertisement with a reference to customers on behalf of a specific party; facilitating communications between the party and a customer via the reference; and charging the party according to a price bid specified by the party in response to a lead to communications between the party and the customer facilitated via the reference. In one embodiment, a fee for the communication leads is determined according to the price bid specified by the party for the advertisement and at least one predetermined rule, which may be based on the geographic area of the advertisement, the categories of the advertisement, the price bids of a selected set of advertisements, and/or the query that causes the advertisement to be presented.