Skype

"They are mature, actually. You just have to get to know them better." – Stu Price (Ed Holmes), The Hangover (2009), Warner Bros

Just got back from a family holiday and no one even knew we were gone.

The phone was always on…just in case.

Handled the emails first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon.

It's surprising how many things you can handle/resolve in an hour when there's no one to interrupt you!

Also did a Skype conference call that was scheduled …it's so cool to be in a meeting in the Pacific Basin and not have to fly there!

The only time we were really unavailable was while flying (too cheap to pay for the in-air Wi-Fi) and when we were scuba diving.Read more

Partnership Will Enable Comcast Customers to Bring Family and Friends Together Via Clear, Widescreen Skype Video Calls Using Their Existing HD Television and Broadband Connection

June 17, 2011 --Comcast Corporation and Skype today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership that will enable Comcast customers to communicate with family and friends through HD video calling on their television. They will soon be able to make and receive Skype video calls from their television, whether their friends and family use Skype on their home TVs, PCs, compatible smartphones or tablets.

Through this arrangement, Comcast customers will be able to experience widescreen HD video calling that is immersive and natural. With Skype, they can share in the excitement of a big game, a birthday party or holiday, a bedtime story, or a casual conversation with loved ones, and have the ability to communicate with hundreds of millions of Skype users across the globe. As real-time video communication becomes a more integral part of the way people connect, Skype and Comcast will bring a simple, affordable, high-quality video calling experience to millions of homes.Read more

"Whatever you've got to tell me, I'll find out through the natural course of time." – Dr. Emmett Brown, Back to the Future (1985)

We hate kids…O.K., the word "hate" may be a little too strong. We're jealous of them! There, we said it…we're glad…we've got two of our own!

We're part of the Baby Boomer Generation--(there are two parts -- 1946 – 1964). Then, there are the Gen Xers ('65 – '78). Then Gen Y ('79 – '89). Now, it's the iGen (1990 – 2009).

No, that isn't the "i" Jobs would like. It's the "i" as in instant, immediate, individual. They're creating havoc with business because we simply cannot figure out how to monetize tomorrow's hardware, software, service solutions.

We loved the old CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) chart of technology adoption:

• PCs took 21 years for 50% household penetration
• Color TV took 13 years
• Cellphones took 12 years
• Cordless phones took 15 years

Companies Deliver Expansive Global Calling Community and Free Skype-to-Skype Calls on the Most Reliable Wireless Network in the United States

March 2010 -- From CTIA WIRELESS 2010 in Las Vegas, Verizon Wireless and Skype just announced Skype mobile will be available this Thursday, March 25, starting with nine Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones. Skype mobile uses the Verizon Wireless voice network for the wireless connection of the Skype-to-Skype calls, providing Verizon Wireless customers with a superior experience and top-notch call quality.

Beginning Thursday, new and existing Verizon Wireless customers with Android 3G smartphones and BlackBerry 3G smartphones can get Skype mobile in a number of ways. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile or www.skype.com/go/mobile from a PC to enter the mobile phone number to receive a text message with a link to the application. Verizon Wireless customers can also text "SKYPE" to 2255 to receive the link. In addition, Android customers will be able to download the app from Android Market. New BlackBerry customers will find the application on their 3G smartphones' home screens in the Downloads folder when activated.Read more

New Skype Mobile Product for Verizon Wireless Smartphones Brings More Value to U.S. Mobile Consumers

February 16, 2010 -- At the 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Verizon Wireless and Skype today announced a strategic relationship that will bring Skype to Verizon Wireless smartphones in March. The new Skype mobile product enhances Verizon Wireless' smartphones for users who have data plans by offering a new way to call around the globe, while also giving hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world the opportunity to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States using Verizon Wireless.

The two companies have created an exclusive, easy-to-use Skype mobile offering for 3G smartphones. Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users with data plans can use Skype mobile to:

• make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America's most reliable wireless network;
• call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
• send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
• remain always connected with the ability to see friends' online presence.

Initially, Skype mobile will be available on millions of best-selling Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones with data plans, including the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR.Read more

CES Cathedral – The industry's giants come to Vegas weeks ahead to set up their pavilions (way beyond ordinary booths). All the glitz, glamour designed to sell.

CES is like Cherry Blossom time in Japan or on the Potomac. Or Mel Brooks' Springtime for Hitler! Just a great way to start fresh and see if the industry can get it right…this time.

Before Shapiro could open the festivities, Google's Schmidt decided he'd pull a Steve and take the wind out of Shapiro's CES sails with his Nexus One unveiling.Read more