Yet another free VoIP service provider on the block: Pudding Media, and once again, an interesting business model.

Pudding says that it will offer free VoIP calling (to any phone in North America) if users agree to allow the company’s voice recognition software listen in, serving up targeted advertisements on the user’s screen during the conversation.

While some are decrying "privacy concerns" with this plan, this claim is difficult to take seriously.  Pudding is upfront about the fact that calls will be monitored; those who don’t like this policy can take their VoIP calls elsewhere.  Besides, Pudding says that they’ll offer "fun, entertaining and valuable information" by monitoring calls.  Who could be against that?  Take this example from Pudding Media’s Web site:

It’s Saturday night. You plan to go to a movie with Ashley. But which movie should you see…? Time to call her and decide. You surf to ThePudding.com and call Ashley for free. As soon as you start talking about movies, a list of local movies, complete with reviews and show times appear on the screen. Now, what about dinner? Just talking about where to get dinner, and offers for local restaurants are displayed. Now you and Ashley have everything you need for dinner and a movie! Oh and just a few clicks and you’ve reserved the tickets and a table. Sweet!

All we can say is sign us up!!  Or, perhaps not.