I have been investigating different avenues for doing online meetings. The Live Chat on this site is OK, but I think that I have found something much better. It is called Skype and it is free. It is basically calling by voice over the internet (VOIP or Voice Over IP is the technical jargon). I had heard about it but never tried it. It was so easy to set up and it allows people to conference call with real voices. I downloaded it today and a few minutes later I was talking with someone in Saudi Arabia, Belgium and a little French island in the Indian Ocean (Crotset??). I was really taken aback. The sound quality was great and there seemed to be no delay. Amazing. We did get booted off after about half an hour or so. I guess there are still some technical difficulties.
So I am sure that to some this sounds like a commercial, but it is free to use for Skype to Skype interaction. Which means that anyone can download it for free (www.skype.com) and set up an online meeting for free with REAL chat (not just typing chat). There are clients for any platform (Windows, Mac, Linux). I think that could add a huge extra dimension to online meetings, making them closer to real face to face meetings. Anyway, if anyone wants to try this out with me, I am planning on being online with Skype tomorrow (Sunday) at about 8 PM Central Standard Time US. My skype name is more.awake. There is a lookup directory so hopefully you can find me. I would love to try this out with anyone who is interested.
A note to addicts. There are some inappropriate chats going on from the looks of things. I will work on figuring out how to block those with some measure of certainty. I don't want to go down that path anymore, just as I know many of you are trying to be vigilant against that sort of thing. The potential is so good for good fellowship and encouragement that I am thinking this is worth investigating, though.
So - tomorrow, Sunday at 8 PM Central time - hope to see you there.
Also, if another time is better for someone, then please leave a note about what is best for you either as a comment on this blog or a message to me and I will try to accomodate. 
more.awake, aka byGrace
Tags: Happy
