Systems and methods to provide alternative connections for real time communications

A non-transitory machine readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

• providing the advertisement of the first advertiser for presentation to a customer, the advertisement including a reference to request a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer, wherein the advertisement is not paused at a time that the advertisement is presented to the customer;
• pausing the advertisement of the first advertiser after the time that the advertisement is presented to the customer;
• receiving a request made via the reference included in the advertisement for a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer;
• determining the advertisement of the first advertiser is paused at a time of the request;
• and
• in response to determining the advertisement of the first advertiser is paused at the time of the request, presenting, using the computing device, an option to make an alternative connection for the customer based on the determined status.

A system, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory to:
• provide the advertisement of the first advertiser for presentation to a customer, the advertisement including a reference configured to request a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer, wherein the advertisement is not paused at a time that the advertisement is presented to the customer;
• pause the advertisement of the first advertiser after the time that the advertisement is presented to the customer;
• receive a request made via the reference included in the advertisement for a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer;
• determine the advertisement of the first advertiser is paused at a time of the request;
• and
• in response to determining the advertisement of the first advertiser is paused at the time of the request, present an option to make an alternative connection for the customer.