Yes, about that ad...

AT&T has announced its intent to buy Ingenio, a pay-per-call ad firm, reports ClickZ.

Adding the system to its roster could enable AT&T to expand its advertising options for small and local businesses, some of which may want to advertise online without maintaining full-service websites.

By empowering conversions to occur by phone instead of via online payment, the pay-per-call model allows them to do just that.

AT&T says it will work to transition Ingenio's clients to its own platform as seamlessly and lovingly as possible.

Ingenio provides service to a number of online companies, including AOL, Dex and SmartPages.