[Jerlene]

This email was sent out to all the publishers but just in case you didn't receive it, here it is:

We are writing to give you an important follow-up to the changes we announced earlier this month to the referrals to AdSense program. Since announcing the changes, we've received a number of responses about the program being dependent on the location of the referring publisher rather than the referred user. After carefully considering this feedback, we have decided to modify our planned changes.

Specifically, you will have the option to add a referral unit for AdSense within your account when you target any referral unit to Japan and/or any countries in North America and Latin America. To ensure payment for valid conversions, we recommend that you check the targeting settings on your current AdSense referral units.

We'd also like to let you know about upcoming changes to the referrals programs for Google Pack and Firefox:

Google Pack: Currently, you can earn up to $2 when a user downloads and runs Google Pack for the first time after being referred through your link or button. Starting the third week of February, each successful Pack referral will earn up to $1. This change will apply to all referrals for Google Pack and is independent of user location or publisher location.

Firefox: We will also be reducing payments for Firefox referrals from China during the third week of February. This specific referral payment change will only affect installations from users in China. As with referrals to AdSense, this is independent of your location as a publisher.

We understand that these changes may decrease revenue for some of you currently participating in these referrals programs. While it is our goal to help publishers earn as much as possible with the AdSense program, like any other referrals advertiser, we are constantly evaluating our campaigns to make them effective and sustainable.

[StarLab]

Another change is their payout requirements. Seems you now need to have telephone verification (voice) before payments are made.

Which really sucks because I refuse to own one of those infernal devices!

However, I'm thinking I still have several months before worrying about it. I'm nowhere near the payout threshold.

[Jerlene]

I haven't noticed or been affected by that change.
I've cashed out every month and didn't need to verify my account by telephone.

[StarLab]

Yea, a buddy says the same. Must just be for the newer people. Those who have been around are likely "grandfathered" into the program and don't have to use this verification.

[Jerlene]

I think maybe just new accounts and users from places other than America.

[mattt]

Anyway the adsense referral progam is a waste of time for me as many had joined through me and none have ever made the google to pay me, not sure why and how. It is good that they have removed it for international publishers.