U.S. State Department Connects Families via Skype During "Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays" Event

In order to brighten the spirit of the holidays, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton hosts an annual "Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays" event honoring the service, dedication and sacrifice of U.S. government employees and their families who are separated for long periods of time due to assignments in hardship posts around the world. Understanding how important it is to stay connected to loved ones, this year, the Office of the Chief of Protocol turned to Skype to help bring these separated families together over the holiday season using new and innovative technologies.
At this year's event, which is taking place later this afternoon, families will be able to celebrate and re-connect in a meaningful way with their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and other loved ones who are serving at US Embassies around the world via Skype. In addition, a Skype Group Video Call will also be set up so that personnel around the world can view a live stream of the program hosted by Secretary Clinton.
Skype feels privileged to be playing such an instrumental part in connecting these diplomatic families with their loved ones at this event. We'll be attending the event and sharing photos and video from the event via @Skype on Twitter and in a gallery on our Facebook page. Perhaps we'll even have the chance to talk with Secretary Clinton or Ambassador Marshall about the important role these diplomats are playing around the world? If we do, we'll be sure to share it with you.

The Ten Deadly Sins of Mobile Video

After decades of waiting for it, mobile video is finally a reality but people still want more. Not just content with watching it, we've wanted to interact with it, make it and use it on the go. Technical limitations, however, have limited us. But no more. Today we live in an age where mobile video shooting, editing and so much more is possible from devices small enough to fit in even the smallest of pockets.

Tomorrow, our Chief Technology Strategist, Jonathan Rosenberg will be talking at SXSW about how this has come about. In what will be a brutally frank presentation, Jonathan will look at what has inhibited progress and what has needed to happen to allow us to get to where we are today. He'll share details on the technical hurdles that the industry has been working on to help the science fiction of mobile video conversations become a reality as well as a little on what Skype has learned along the way.

We invite all that are in Austin for SXSW to come and join us for this behind the scenes eye opener. And don't forget to bring your questions.

Businesses Countdown to TechCrunch Disrupt with Help from Skype

We’re counting down to TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco next week. A team of us from Skype’s Silicon Valley office are planning to visit the headliner event. We’re not only excited to check out the sessions, but we’re especially looking forward to the Startup Battlefield event at TechCrunch Disrupt.
As the official video calling host for TechCrunch Disrupt, Skype has been a key tool in the event’s Startup Battlefield competition. According to TechCrunch event organizers, “We’ve performed over 250 video calls and demos for Disrupt on Skype plus countless hours of calls, conference calls and chat sessions.”
That’s great. Not only do we think Skype is an essential tool for almost any business, but we also think it’s really novel that hundreds of startups and entrepreneurs are using Skype to be interviewed by TechCrunch. The final selected contestants will have their chance to pitch their ideas or products in person at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, for a cash prize of $50,000 that can be used to help them bring their idea to the market.
Millions of people use Skype every day, and in the first half of 2010, Skype video calling represented approximately 40% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes. In fact, approximately 37% of over 40,000 of our connected users surveyed in the first quarter of 2010 told us they use Skype occasionally or often for business related purposes. Businesses are using Skype to benefit from lower costs and expand how employees, customers, partners and suppliers communicate and collaborate with ease-of-use, greater convenience and efficiency.

Check out these tips to get started using Skype for your business today.

• If you can’t arrange an in-person meeting, suggest hosting the meeting over a Skype video call. Ensure you have a high quality webcam and microphone, high-speed Internet access, and Skype software downloaded to your computer.
• If there are more than two parties on the call, Skype’s latest beta for Windows can support group video calling, so you can talk to multiple colleagues or customers.
• If you want an easy way to manage and allocate credit for multiple Skype accounts for your organization, use Skype Manager.
• Don’t forget if you want to show a demo or run through a presentation, Skype’s screen sharing feature is easy and useful. In fact, check out this great TechCrunch post here about Skype screen sharing.
• Last but not least, a little bit of etiquette can go a long way when communicating with business associates over Skype. We enjoyed these great etiquette tips from TechCrunch here.

Skype Joins Mashable, 92nd Street Y & United Nations Foundation in Launching a Discussion on Social Good

At Skype, we know the power of conversation. We know that just one conversation can spark incredible ideas. Ideas that address the world's most intractable problems - like hunger, poverty and disease. We also know that all too often conversations on these subjects are limited to the inner circles of world leaders, politicians and think tanks. That's why we are so proud to join 92nd Street Y, Mashable and the United Nations Foundation in opening up the conversation around social good.
On September 20, Skype video calling will be used to connect leaders from the online, business, policy and media worlds to the Mashable and 92Y Social Good Summit. At the summit, top minds in digital media will come together to discuss how technology and social networks can play a leading role in addressing the U.N.'s "Millennium Development Goals" (MDGs). Participating speakers include Pete Cashmore, CEO/Founder of Mashable, Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and founder of Jumo, Susan Smith Ellis, CEO of (RED), and Ted Turner, the Chairman of Turner Enterprises, among others.
The Social Good Summit takes place during United Nations Week, which plays host to the annual General Assembly and a historic summit on global issues known as the "Millennium Development Goals" (MDGs). The Social Good Summit will be open to the public and will enable millions to join the conversation via livestreaming.
Skype will also play a central role in the UN Foundation and Mashable-sponsored Digital Media Lounge, which will be hosted at 92Y throughout UN Week, September 21-24, allowing real-time, face-to-face communications. The fully wired lounge will provide the online community exclusive access to high-level UN officials and international leaders. Bringing UN closed-door conversations out in the open, experts in poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDs, women's health, and climate change will be able to connect with bloggers and journalists both in person and through Skype video calling interview facilities.

Announcing our representative office for the Middle East and Africa

I'm happy to announce that we have just opened our representative office for the Middle East and Africa region in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
Today, at a press conference held jointly with the Bahrain Economic Development Board, we explained some of the key reasons to why we chose Bahrain.
Bahrain provides one of the most energetic environments to support and encourage innovation - it has a talented local workforce as well as forward thinking economic development strategies that help support business. In addition, as a gateway to the Gulf, Bahrain is the ideal location from which to support our global strategy - ensuring Skype is available for anyone, anywhere who want to do things together.
I'll be leading Skype's activities in the region, so if you have any questions, queries or just want to discuss the squad selection made by Algeria's coach , please get in touch.

Skype and the Olympics

Heather McPhie is an Olympic freestyle skier, who competed in the Ladies’ Moguls in Vancouver this year. I invited her to write about her experience of the Olympics and of Skype. Watch out for the second post about her competition day in the coming weeks.

One of my favorite things about the Olympics is the sense of connection. Athletes, staff, family, fans, and Olympic enthusiasts from all over the world coming together to watch the dreams and dedication of the worlds top athletes. When I say coming together I do not mean solely the people who travel to the Olympics; I mean everyone who watches, thinks about, and becomes involved in the Olympics and what it represents. In my opinion it does not matter which athletes or what country you are cheering for or representing, it matters that you are part of it. It matters that the world is coming together to celebrate something positive.

My world has exponentially expanded from becoming an Olympian. The amount of people I have gotten to meet, who have sent me encouraging words and been a part of my journey so far have made me feel more a part of the whole than ever. Made me feel closer to my hometown, my family and friends, my country and the world.

What an amazing gift to be able to connect people. Skype does that for me almost every day, and especially when I am on the road, away from many of my family and friends. To be able to see my sister and my nephew the morning of my event at the Olympics meant the world to me. I got a cyber hug from my sister, and got to listen to my nephew babble and laugh and play. To listen to my friend Susan talk about her Heather McPhie Olympic party in Park City and getting to Skype with people during the event brought tears to my eyes. It is an amazing sense of support and comfort to me, and I think of all the ways it has positively affected my life and I can not imagine how many other people feel the same way.

Pursuing my dreams in freestyle mogul skiing has taught me so much about myself, and taken me all over the world. It has been a wonderful journey, but also one that has felt lonely at times. My trip to Olympics and the coming World Cups has me away from home for two months. That is a long time for me to not see my family and friends. Skype has shortened the distance, made it easier for me to feel a part of things at home, while being on the road.

Skype is coming to Mobile World Congress

Next week in Barcelona is Mobile World Congress – the world’s biggest mobile industry event. We’ll be there in force, and will have a couple of exciting announcements to make. Russ Shaw, VP and GM of our mobile business, gives a few hints in the video above.

You can also join us at our tweetup for drinks and a chance to talk to everyone from engineers to marketers about the week’s announcements. It kicks off at 1730 on Wednesday 17th, and you can find us in the App Planet in hall 7 – just look out for the blue signs and Skype employees.