Okay, this is not as exciting as one of those outrageous Super Bowl commercials that everyone tunes in to see, but it sure is exciting to me!
I spend much of my time at the computer - writing books (see Before the Bell Rings) and magazine articles, editing a parenting magazine (ask for a sample copy), completing research for my doctoral coursework (ask me about Fielding Graduate University), and teaching courses of all kinds online (ask me about the Christian Writers Guild or St. Petersburg College). Oh, and yes, blogging. I love technology.
But I hate telephones.
Yet I must conduct much of my business on telephones: editorial conference calls (ask me about my magazine again), interviews for my research, and doing interviews to publicize my latest book (contact Melissa Teutsch to set one up).
I wish there was a way I could be online and on the phone at the same time. I realize that most of you are familiar with "talk" technology maybe through Yahoo or AOL or even MSN, but they pale in comparison to Skype.
Get yourself a decent headset (or Bluetooth technology) and download the FREE Skype software and you're ON! Crystal clear connections (for Broadband users) with friends all over the world. You can see when they are online and whether or not they're available to "talk." Right here you can see if I am online and available right now.
You can get voicemail and call forwarding. You're connected computer to computer. You can talk one on one or in small groups. If you want to schedule more than that, you can host a Skypecast instead.
The best thing is that it doesn't use any of your cell phone minutes! And if we can get radio stations on board with this, they can be assured of crystal clear interviews and it won't cost them or us authors a dime.
I use Skype when I'm traveling to keep in touch with my family too. There is a video component you can use if both sides have a webcam, so video conferencing works too.
Okay, my commercial is done - and I apologize that it was longer than the traditional 15 second sound byte.
I look forward to hearing all about how you Skype one another!