WebProNews

Let's pretend we're professionals here, people, and not say the first thing that comes to our minds. Ether, a new division of Ingenio, has set up a web service that lets you charge other people to talk to you on the phone. Don't say it

Phone sex!

Darn it. Need to work on that.

This is not a product to make it easier to get into the phone sex business, though that is certainly a possible (and likely) use. Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk business.

Still in beta testing and backed by the same investors as eBay and Skype, Ether provides a telephony-and-web platform that allows people to call you directly for a fee.

Actual home and cell phone numbers are not provided. Calls are redirected from an 888-number after an interested client has paid to hear what you have to say.

"How much is your time worth? $75 an hour? $15 for 15 minutes? $30 per call? Whatever you like. People will only be able to call you when they've prepaid your rate," reads the website.

Clients can choose their rates, their service, and their hours so they're not called at the wrong times. The Ether number can be put on a website, a blog, a business card, a bathroom wall, whatever. Ether charges a 15% commission on the money you earn.

They've also set it up so that digital content, like reports, photographs, podcasts, videos, etc., can be sold through email.

The content will only be viewable once people have paid to see it. In addition to that, there is also a Buy Now Button that can be placed on a website, which will make it extra easy to sell any type of content directly.

Next time I'll try to restrain myself from stating the obvious.